Meet Shay Lyons
I’ve been a nature lover and enthusiastic bird watcher my entire life, and started capital B birding during a trip to Mexico in 2024. I love birding in Colorado, and specifically the Front Range, where our diversity of habitats and changing seasons keep a fun and interesting rotation of birds year-round. There’s nothing like seeing that first Hooded Merganser of the winter in my local patch, City Park, or hearing the lovely and ethereal Hermit Thrush in the mountains in summer. Birding allows me to slow down and connect with the world around me in a way that feeds my curiosity and soothes my nervous system.
I enjoy attending and leading trips that engage all my senses; I especially love birding by ear! I love getting to know the same patches throughout the year. My trips will focus on traveling shorter distances at a mindful pace where I can share my knowledge of birds, plants, habitats, and learn from you too!
Meet Linda Purcell
I consider myself fortunate that as a Colorado native, I grew up spending much of my time outdoors. I started birding with intent in 2020, and DFO has given me the opportunity to explore even more of the State in a more specific and detailed way. Locally, the extreme familiarity of 'patch' birding has been my best educational tool. The repetition requires me to bird with the goal accumulating knowledge. Beyond any goal, watching birds is a joy.
Less developed parts of the urban area, those fringed with industry and basically ignored for one reason or another. I prefer searching out undiscovered or neglected birdy places, places beyond hot spots. Birding a 'patch' or patches throughout the year, regularly and seasonally, is an education in the changing environment, reflected in how the species change. Studying birds in their habitat is particularly interesting; that includes vegetation and topography and going off the path- what makes one draw and gully a good habitat and another place not? Late summer and fall are my favorite seasons - the fledged and juvenile birds, mixed flocks, the challenge of identifying that little brown bird. Hiking is always welcome.
I am fortunate to travel locally, regionally, and beyond to learn about people and places, and certainly to see birds.