{"id":12613,"date":"2010-01-01T14:11:46","date_gmt":"2010-01-01T19:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/?p=12613"},"modified":"2015-06-01T14:30:26","modified_gmt":"2015-06-01T18:30:26","slug":"birding-escapes-pawnee-national-grasslands-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/birding-escapes-pawnee-national-grasslands-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"Birding Escapes: Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-group sidebar-alignright sidebar-space order-bottom\"><div class=\"article-list list-style alignright\"><h2 class=\"article-list-header\">More From Living Bird<\/h2><ul><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-living-bird-toc\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/toc_image-3.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/toc_image-3-720x329.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/toc_image-3-768x351.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/toc_image-3-480x219.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/toc_image-3.jpg 918w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Photo by Marie Read\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Living Bird Winter 2010\u2014Table of Contents<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-living-bird-toc\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-latest.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-latest.png 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-latest-240x180.png 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-latest-480x360.png 480w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Living Bird-latest issue\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Living Bird Magazine\u2014Latest Issue<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-acrhive.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-acrhive.png 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-acrhive-240x180.png 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/living-bird-acrhive-480x360.png 480w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Living Bird archives\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Living Bird Magazine Archives<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sidebar-alignright sidebar-space order-bottom\"><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n<span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-096b8ce3-0e2d-46c5-bbf7-12de3323c8da\">\r\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-096b8ce3-0e2d-46c5-bbf7-12de3323c8da\" id=\"hs-cta-096b8ce3-0e2d-46c5-bbf7-12de3323c8da\">\r\n        <!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]-->\r\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/096b8ce3-0e2d-46c5-bbf7-12de3323c8da\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-096b8ce3-0e2d-46c5-bbf7-12de3323c8da\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/096b8ce3-0e2d-46c5-bbf7-12de3323c8da.png\"  alt=\"subscribe to Living Bird magazine\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\r\n    <\/span>\r\n    <script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script>\r\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n        hbspt.cta.load(95627, '096b8ce3-0e2d-46c5-bbf7-12de3323c8da', {});\r\n    <\/script>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Endless vistas of rolling hills carpeted with colorful wildflowers\u2014 that\u2019s Pawnee National Grasslands in spring. Located just 35 miles northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado, this internationally known birding area is home to dozens of bird species, as well as pronghorns, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs.<\/p>\n<p>Covering more than 193,000 acres, Pawnee National Grasslands is divided into two adjacent parcels, traversed via county roads and vehicle travel routes marked with numbered posts. Grassland species can be quite skittish if you approach them on foot, but driving slowly along the auto trails yields close-up views of most species.<\/p>\n<p>Resident birds include the Lark Bunting (at right), Horned Lark, Burrowing Owl, Mountain Plover, Vesper Sparrow, and numerous raptors. In riparian areas, you can also find Mourning Doves, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Black-billed Magpies, and Gray Catbirds.<\/p>\n<p>The best time to visit is in May and June, when migrants are passing through and resident breeders are arriving on their nesting grounds. In late spring the birds are bustling at the height of nesting season and the grasslands are in full bloom.<\/p>\n<p>With as many as 301 species of birds using these windswept plains, the Pawnee is a bird-watcher\u2019s paradise. Early mornings and evenings provide the best opportunity to see and photograph birds and other wildlife.<\/p>\n<p>Because of its importance to migrants and breeding grassland species, the National Audubon Society has recognized the Pawnee National Grasslands as an Important Bird Area.<\/p>\n<p>Located less than an hour\u2019s drive from Denver, Greeley, and Fort Collins, Pawnee National Grasslands is a great escape into the vast Great Plains wilderness.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group well-gray has-lightgray-background-color has-background\">\n<h4>Directions<\/h4>\n<p>From Denver International Airport, drive west on Pena Boulevard to exit 6B East-470. Turn right onto the E-470 ramp (toll road) and drive 3.5 miles to the exit for US-85 North. Take US-85 North for 52.6 miles to County Road-90 (CR90). Turn right (East) on CR-90 and drive 8 miles. This places you at the west edge of Pawnee National Grasslands. Use a county map (available at any local convenience store) to navigate the various roads and auto trails winding through the grasslands.<\/p>\n<p>On the Web: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/detail\/arp\/about-forest\/?cid=fsm91_058278\">Pawnee National Grasslands<\/a>, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Endless vistas of rolling hills carpeted with colorful wildflowers\u2014 that\u2019s Pawnee National Grasslands in spring. Located just 35 miles northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado, this internationally known birding area is<a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/birding-escapes-pawnee-national-grasslands-colorado\/\" title=\"ReadBirding Escapes: Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado\">&#8230; Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":12617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc":0,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc_title":"","_birdpress_featured_image":false,"_birdpress_hero_toggle":false,"_birdpress_hero_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_image_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_style":"default","_birdpress_hero_ratio":"","_birdpress_hero_h1":"","_birdpress_hero_media_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_media_array_id":[],"_birdpress_hero_media_array":[],"_birdpress_hero_media":0,"_birdpress_hero_video_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_video":0,"_birdpress_hero_youtube":"","_birdpress_hero_content":true,"_birdpress_hero_byline":"","_birdpress_hero_byline_bottom":"","_birdpress_hero_button_link":"","_birdpress_hero_button_text":"","_birdpress_hero_button_color":"","_birdpress_hero_date":false,"original_guid":"","_birdpress_hide_search":false,"_birdpress_page_width":"","_birdpress_global_cta":false,"_birdpress_widget_sidebar":"","_birdpress_next_article":0,"_birdpress_next_article_title":"","_birdpress_prev_article":0,"_birdpress_prev_article_title":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_sub_navigation":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_title":false,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation":"","_birdpress_postType":"both","_birdpress_categoryID":0,"_birdpress_tagID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostTitle":"","_birdpress_menuID":0,"_birdpress_menuName":"","_birdpress_listHeader":"","_birdpress_listLayout":"card-display","_birdpress_listColumns":"","_birdpress_maxItems":12,"_birdpress_listPaginate":true,"_birdpress_displaySort":true,"_birdpress_sortOrder":"DESC","_birdpress_sortBy":"date","_birdpress_listID":"","_birdpress_listClass":"","_birdpress_displayImages":true,"_birdpress_displayCaptions":false,"_birdpress_displayExcerpts":false,"_birdpress_attTop":"","_birdpress_attBottom":"","_birdpress_showLogos":false,"_birdpress_post_logo":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_topic":0,"wds_primary_content-format":0,"wds_primary_cornell-lab-project":0,"wds_primary_host-project":0,"wds_primary_read-more-tag":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[998,1045],"content-format":[1055],"cornell-lab-project":[1069],"host-project":[],"read-more-tag":[],"class_list":["post-12613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-news-and-features","topic-travel-news-and-features","content-format-article","cornell-lab-project-living-bird-magazine"],"metadata":{"associated-posts":[""],"wpa_off":[""],"_edit_lock":["1433183298:4"],"_edit_last":["4"],"_thumbnail_id":["12617"],"wdsi_message_id":[""],"wdsi_do_not_show":[""],"custom-byline":["<h5>by 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