April 24, 2007

Hosting Birders Brings New Business to Local Ranchers

How do you get access to thousands of acres of prime wildlife habitat that is in private ownership? Step onto the plains in Southeast Colorado and find a new idea taking hold in the region. With the first ever, Colorado Birding Trail Map, some innovative thinking and partnerships are being formed. A project started by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado Audubon, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Colorado Field Ornithologists, Colorado State Parks and Playa Lake Joint Venture the map was launched in February of 2007. 51 sites are featured on the map using private land owners to link birders to the bird habitats that they otherwise would not be able to access. With over 400 species of birds in Southeast Colorado the region has begun to draw a lot of interest and ranchers like Fred and Norma Dorenkamp are opening up their lands.

The Colorado Birding Trail is “a new tourism initiative to promote non-consumptive outdoor recreation, conservation of resources by private landowners, and a diversified income for rural economies. The Birding Trail links outdoor recreation sites, both public and private, into a network of sites where visitors can observe birds and other wildlife, often in addition to archaeological and paleontological treasures.” With this initiative ranchers are finding ways to supplement their income and DOW is getting access to habitat.

Birding is the fastest growing outdoor recreation activity and now it is thriving along side of one of America’s oldest industries. Side by side these two unlikely groups are sharing the natural and cultural heritage of Southeast Colorado as they sit viewing Lesser Prairie Chickens.
To get more information about this program:
John Koshak
Watchable Wildlife Coordinator
SE Region, Colorado Division of Wildlife
Phone:  719-227-5221
Cell:  719-649-7385
Email:  john.koshak@state.co.us

Seth Gallagher
Assistant Director, Division of Outreach
Wildlife Biologist
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
970-482-1707
Cell: 970-420-6666
seth.gallagher@rmbo.org

Fred and Norma Dorenkamp
Arena Dust Tours
Phone: 719-688-3869 or 719-734-5226
arena_dust@yahoo.com