29 Aug Eating Inside a Bird’s Nest. No, really.

By: Dominick Roosen (EFTA Intern)

Hello, all. I have had a busy week and want to share what I’ve been doing with Environment for the Americas.

First, I went on a bird walk at the Boulder Rec Center at the beginning of August, led by a guide named Pete. The trail was accessible for people with disabilities because it was flat, concrete and gravel. There was one section that may not be wheelchair accessible. The parking lot is free. We had a lot of fun on the trail, and we saw a hawk flying overhead.

 After this event, I did a Birdability Site Assessment at Pella’s Crossing. These assessments help determine what trails are good for people with disabilities. This helps people plan their day outside.

Then, we went into the Rocky Mountain National Park on Tuesday. We started early and spent almost the whole day inside the park. I went to the Alluvial Fan, a special place within the park where a big rockslide happened decades ago. It’s a great spot for bird watching. The park ranger did a really good presentation. They talked about the different types of birds in the park, bird songs and bird calls. Their talk was helpful for people who have low vision and who rely on their ears to enjoy nature.  

 The RMNP staff also told us about what kind of trees we were seeing on the trail. We looked at pine trees and smelled the pine. I noticed the bark was the lovely scent of caramel. Next, we drove over to Lily Lake which is a part of the park. It was such a nice day with no clouds in the sky. The wind was blowing off the peaks and it felt great.

To end the trip, we went to The Bird’s Nest restaurant in Estes Park. It’s kind of ironic that we went to somewhere called the Bird’s Nest, I mean since we are all a birding group. I enjoyed a sandwich with our EFTA group.

I want to thank the NPS Rangers for leading us on this tour around the Rocky Mountain National Park.  Having them as guides allowed me to see it from a new perspective.