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2019 ARCHIVES: Scientific Excursions
The following scientific excursions will be offered at the 2019 US-IALE Annual Meeting. Please note: pre-registration and additional fees are required for all excursions.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 | 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm (Half-Day Scientific Excursions)
(SE1) Birds, Bikes, & Brews
Leader(s): Luke George, The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies; Erin Youngberg, The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Overview: This excursion will start at the Hotel on rental bikes and head out on the Spring Creek Trail to Riverbend Ponds Natural Areas, stopping at The Nix Farm to learn about using bird monitoring for conservation/ biodiversity. Birds Conservancy of the Rockies Biologist Rob Sparks will talk to the group about a Citizen Science project surveying for Eastern Screech Owls along the Poudre River to help the City gauge riparian corridor ecosystem health. Then the group would continue the bike ride along the Poudre River Trail to New Belgium Brewery for an exclusive tour, followed by a van ride back to the hotel.
Fee: $75; includes bike/helmet rental, tour of New Belgium Brewery, and van ride back to hotel.
Leader(s): Luke George, The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies; Erin Youngberg, The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Overview: This excursion will start at the Hotel on rental bikes and head out on the Spring Creek Trail to Riverbend Ponds Natural Areas, stopping at The Nix Farm to learn about using bird monitoring for conservation/ biodiversity. Birds Conservancy of the Rockies Biologist Rob Sparks will talk to the group about a Citizen Science project surveying for Eastern Screech Owls along the Poudre River to help the City gauge riparian corridor ecosystem health. Then the group would continue the bike ride along the Poudre River Trail to New Belgium Brewery for an exclusive tour, followed by a van ride back to the hotel.
Fee: $75; includes bike/helmet rental, tour of New Belgium Brewery, and van ride back to hotel.
(SE2) Resilience-based Forest Management in the Colorado Front Range
Leaders: Theresa Chapman, The Nature Conservancy; Rob Addington, The Nature Conservancy
Overview: This excursion will be led by two forest ecologists at the Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Rob Addington, Director of Forest and Fire Program, and Teresa Chapman, GIS Manager. We will visit two locations outside of Fort Collins: 1) a recent high severity fire (the 2012 High Park Fire) and 2) a recently treated site with thinning and prescribed fire (the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch). At the first site, We will discuss new research on forest regeneration and how we are using remote sensing to map surviving conifers to plan for post-fire recovery. At the second site, we will look at recent forest treatments that are diversifying forest structure, minimizing the risk of wildfire in critical watersheds, and contributing to a culture of fire on the Front Range.
Fee: $65.00; includes transportation, water, and snacks.
Leaders: Theresa Chapman, The Nature Conservancy; Rob Addington, The Nature Conservancy
Overview: This excursion will be led by two forest ecologists at the Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Rob Addington, Director of Forest and Fire Program, and Teresa Chapman, GIS Manager. We will visit two locations outside of Fort Collins: 1) a recent high severity fire (the 2012 High Park Fire) and 2) a recently treated site with thinning and prescribed fire (the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch). At the first site, We will discuss new research on forest regeneration and how we are using remote sensing to map surviving conifers to plan for post-fire recovery. At the second site, we will look at recent forest treatments that are diversifying forest structure, minimizing the risk of wildfire in critical watersheds, and contributing to a culture of fire on the Front Range.
Fee: $65.00; includes transportation, water, and snacks.
CANCELLED: (SE3) Collaborating on Climate Change – The City of Fort Collins’ Climate Action Plan
Thursday, April 11, 2019 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Full-Day Scientific Excursion)
(SE4) Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
UPDATE AS OF APRIL 9: We are very sorry to let you know that the weather Thursday is not going to let us go forward with the field trip Thursday! The roads leading to the Soapstone Preserve will not be passable by our van with the wet weather forecasted.
Here is an option, a question, and some info:
Please let me know whether you would still like your boxed lunch and whether you think you will take advantage of the bus shuttle.
All of the trip leaders are very sad that we have to cancel!
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Leaders: Jennifer Barfield, Colorado State University; Aran Meyer, City of Fort Collins
Overview: Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is located on the Colorado-Wyoming border in the heart of a mountains-to-plains landscape called the Laramie Foothills. Soapstone is home to globally rare ecosystems and nearly pristine shortgrass prairie that offer critical habitat for wildlife, including pronghorn, swift fox, black-tailed prairie dogs, elk, and mule deer. The prairie supports more than 130 species of birds, including nesting golden eagles and burrowing owls, prairie falcons, ferruginous hawks, long-billed curlews and mountain plovers. Wetland and riparian systems support the federally threatened Colorado butterfly plant and other imperiled plant species. Soapstone Prairie is also the site of two important wildlife reintroduction programs: American bison and federally-endangered black-footed ferrets. Culturally, Soapstone Prairie is rich in human history, and is home to the Lindenmeier Archaeological Site, a National Historic Landmark. The tour of this unique landscape will include:
Fee: $25.00; includes transportation, lunch, and beverage.
UPDATE AS OF APRIL 9: We are very sorry to let you know that the weather Thursday is not going to let us go forward with the field trip Thursday! The roads leading to the Soapstone Preserve will not be passable by our van with the wet weather forecasted.
Here is an option, a question, and some info:
- We will be setting up a bus shuttle from the Hilton to Downtown Fort Collins from 9:30 to 3:30 that you will be welcome to take advantage of. We will likely have it stop at a few different places and do something like an hour-long loop.
- A hourly shuttle to downtown will be provided from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM (last loop returns to Hilton by 3:30). Click here for details.
- Stop by the Registration Desk for your boxed lunch between 9 AM and noon.
- We can’t offer refunds in this circumstance (Act of God…)
Please let me know whether you would still like your boxed lunch and whether you think you will take advantage of the bus shuttle.
All of the trip leaders are very sad that we have to cancel!
----
Leaders: Jennifer Barfield, Colorado State University; Aran Meyer, City of Fort Collins
Overview: Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is located on the Colorado-Wyoming border in the heart of a mountains-to-plains landscape called the Laramie Foothills. Soapstone is home to globally rare ecosystems and nearly pristine shortgrass prairie that offer critical habitat for wildlife, including pronghorn, swift fox, black-tailed prairie dogs, elk, and mule deer. The prairie supports more than 130 species of birds, including nesting golden eagles and burrowing owls, prairie falcons, ferruginous hawks, long-billed curlews and mountain plovers. Wetland and riparian systems support the federally threatened Colorado butterfly plant and other imperiled plant species. Soapstone Prairie is also the site of two important wildlife reintroduction programs: American bison and federally-endangered black-footed ferrets. Culturally, Soapstone Prairie is rich in human history, and is home to the Lindenmeier Archaeological Site, a National Historic Landmark. The tour of this unique landscape will include:
- The bison of the Laramie Foothills Conservation Herd, descendants of the Yellowstone National Park herd: Dr. Barfield has led the program to circumvent the zoonotic disease Brucellosis through assisted reproductive technologies thereby protecting the valuable and unique Yellowstone genetic lineage without risk of spreading the disease.
- Prairie dog and black-footed ferret management programs: Soapstone Prairie is one of only 21 reintroduction sites for the black-footed ferret, one of the most highly endangered mammals in North America.
- A hike through Cedar Canyon, a unique area at Soapstone with rare plant communities and abundant birding.
- The Lindenmeier Archaeological Site, recognized worldwide as one of the most well-preserved and extensive Folsom occupations in the American West.
- Collaborative conservation: Soapstone Prairie is one piece of an innovative effort to create a corridor of protected lands linking the mountains to the plains led by collaborations between city, county, state, and federal agencies, in partnership with non-profits and private landowners.
Fee: $25.00; includes transportation, lunch, and beverage.
Thursday, April 11, 2019 | 9:30am - 3:30 pm (Full-Day Scientific Excursion)
(SE5) Phantom Canyon Preserve Tour
UPDATE AS OF APRIL 9: We are very sorry to have to let you know that we are cancelling the Field Trip due to forecasted weather conditions Wednesday into Thursday. The roads we would need to travel will not be safe or navigable by the bus (or cars!).
The trip leaders are very sorry to have to make this decision!
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Leader: Sally Ruth Ross, The Nature Conservancy
Overview: Today considered one of the last great Front Range landscapes, this preserve features a spectacular roadless canyon, a rim-to-rim sanctuary encompassing four miles of the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River. There is a lot to see here. More than 100 bird species have been spotted in the grassy uplands, along the river's edge and soaring above the canyon walls. Varied topography, slope and soil conditions combine to create habitat for more than 200 plant species.
Fee: $55.00; includes transportation, lunch, and beverage.
UPDATE AS OF APRIL 9: We are very sorry to have to let you know that we are cancelling the Field Trip due to forecasted weather conditions Wednesday into Thursday. The roads we would need to travel will not be safe or navigable by the bus (or cars!).
- We plan to re-purpose the bus to serve as a shuttle between the Hilton and downtown Fort Collins for the time period 9:30 to 3:30. We will have it stop at a few different places on a loop around town.
- A hourly shuttle to downtown will be provided from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM (last loop returns to Hilton by 3:30). Click here for details.
- Stop by the Registration Desk for your boxed lunch between 9 AM and noon.
- Unfortunately, we cannot offer a refund in this situation because we still have to pay for the bus.
The trip leaders are very sorry to have to make this decision!
----
Leader: Sally Ruth Ross, The Nature Conservancy
Overview: Today considered one of the last great Front Range landscapes, this preserve features a spectacular roadless canyon, a rim-to-rim sanctuary encompassing four miles of the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River. There is a lot to see here. More than 100 bird species have been spotted in the grassy uplands, along the river's edge and soaring above the canyon walls. Varied topography, slope and soil conditions combine to create habitat for more than 200 plant species.
Fee: $55.00; includes transportation, lunch, and beverage.