Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival

Nestled between alpine and mesa forests and scenic desert canyons, the Four Corner’s intriguingly diverse landscapes and mild climate in Southwestern Colorado has drawn people to the region for generations. Today’s meadows, pastures, cultivated fields, historic orchards, stock ponds, and reservoirs are habitat for a wide variety of migratory and resident birds. Some species, such as Lucy’s Warbler, are found no place else in Colorado. The festival’s birding tally has climbed to 180 species. Hosted by the Cortez Cultural Center, the festival includes day and overnight birding tours to an array of birding hotspots to fit a gamut of abilities, ages, and interests. Some tours combine birding with regional archaeology, ecology, and history. Early evening lectures, keynote speaker, social hours, a bird-themed art show, and banquet.