The 7th Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival promises to be a special event! Join public, private and non-profits for an ecotourism birding and nature festival that promotes conservation and education to explore the natural and agricultural heritage resources of the Pikes Peak Region. Spring migration along Colorado’s Front Range is often full of surprises. The Pikes Peak region has much to offer, with the shortgrass prairie rising to meet the forested foothills and deep canyons of the southern Front Range, and rich, riparian forests providing for countless birds, insects, and other wildlife.

This year, participants are invited to:

· Accompany local naturalist Sharon Milito on a hike through Jimmy Camp Creek Open Space, noted for its geologically important K-Pg Boundary and extensive mammal fossils as well as its native habitats and biological diversity.

· Join world-renowned Flammulated Owl researcher, Dr. Brian Linkhart in the Manitou Experimental Forest to look for these diminutive raptors.

· Explore geology in the restricted-access portion of the Paint Mines Interpretive Park.

· Observe which bird species thrive in our regional parks or learn about the geology of the renowned Colorado Springs Garden of the Gods city park.

· Deepen creativity and observation through nature sketching with festival artist Heidi Eaton.

· Enjoy hikes in the aromatic junipers and scrub oaks of the foothills. And the opportunities don’t end there!

· On Saturday evening, May14, a “Birds and Brews” happy hour at Bear Creek Regional Park will include food, drinks, and live jazz music. Participants can share sightings from Friday’s and Saturday’s field trips and view a list of the birds found during field trips. There will be door prizes and items up for bid at the auction table including this year’s festival art.

We hope you will join us in Colorado Springs, Colorado on May 13-15, 2022 for dynamic field trips and appealing seminars and workshops.

Registration opens March 26that 10:00 a.m^. and Early Bird Registration continues through April 9^th. The early bird gets the worm- or in this case, discounted festival cost and registration for preferred workshops and trips! For registration and additional information, visit

https://pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org/

Link to festival images here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OVQD7rh0bDv8dj9PoHpGSvWzvy9fwtkQ?usp=sharing