As part of your registration, in order to participate in a Denver Field Ornithologists, Inc. (“DFO”) trip or other activities designated by the Board of Directors, each adult participant and the parent of a minor participant (those under 18 yrs. of age) are required to review and sign (either electronically or manually) a DFO Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risks & Release and Indemnity Agreement (sometimes “Agreement”) Completing this document involves your acceptance of binding contract terms. This online registration system allows you to review and electronically sign the Agreement if you do not have one on file. If you would prefer to manually sign a printable version of the Agreement, you may access it here, and present it to the leader before trip start. If you choose this option, please contact your leader to assure you are signed up for the trip.
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Meet Your Trip Leader
Developing Birder Trip - These trips are especially welcoming to newer birders wanting to learn more, and questions are encouraged.
View eBird Hotspot Info
Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
—Winter Raptors at Rocky Mountain Arsenal
(Developing Birder Trip)
2/5/2026
7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Leader:
Ryan Dibala ryan.dibala@gmail.com or 8604553224
Trip Difficulty: Easy
Directions
Meet at the Arsenal Visitors Center, 6550 Gateway Rd, Commerce City, CO. General directions: On I-70 east, take exit 278, turn left onto Quebec St, turn right onto E 64th Ave, turn left onto Trenton St, continue onto Gateway Rd to Visitor Center.
View Meeting Place on Google Maps
This trip is limited to the first 12 registrations.
Habitats to bird: Grassland
Join me for a focused winter field trip exploring Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, one of the Denver Metro Area’s premier hotspots for raptors. Winter is an exceptional season for birds of prey along the Front Range, and the Arsenal regularly hosts an impressive array of raptors drawn to its open grasslands, wetlands, and abundant prey.
This trip will emphasize improving raptor identification skills while deepening participants’ understanding of raptor ecology and natural history. February often brings large movements of bald eagles, along with wintering ferruginous hawks, rough-legged hawks, prairie falcons, American kestrels, merlins, and northern harriers. RM Arsenal can be a good place to observe variation in red-tailed hawks, with Harlan's and Krider's hawks sometimes spotted. Additionally, February is an excellent time to locate breeding great horned owls.
Throughout the morning, we’ll focus on key field marks, structure, flight style, behavior, habitat use, and seasonal context to help participants gain confidence identifying raptors in real-world conditions.
The trip will last approximately 4 hours and will involve caravaning from the Pat Schroeder Visitor Center to several hotspots within the refuge. We’ll make multiple stops, with several short, flat walks totaling about 2 miles. Dress in warm layers, as winter conditions can be cold and windy. Bring water, snacks, and sun protection.
This field trip is ideal for birders looking to sharpen their raptor skills and gain a deeper appreciation for the dynamic winter raptor community of the Denver Metro Area.
4 people have registered for this trip. There are 8 spaces left.
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