All Dave’s hikes are free and open to everyone. Follow instructions below to sign up. Since hikes fill up quickly and often have a waiting list, please let Dave know right away if you need to cancel a reservation.

Free community Nature Hikes

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Solstice Hawk Walk. PROGRAM FULL
Saturday December 21, 9 am -11:30 am
Join naturalist Dave Sutherland to watch majestic winter  migratory birds of prey wheel and hunt over the prairie as we hike near Boulder Reservoir. Bring binoculars, spotting scopes, guidebooks, and any level of experience. Meet at the aptly-named Eagle Trailhead (map search Eagle Trailhead Boulder 80302) just west of Boulder Reservoir, north of Jay Road. Be prepared for cold windy conditions and amazing sights. Please bring strap-on traction for footwear (e.g. micro-spikes or yak-tracks) since the trail may be very slick and icy.  This program is sponsored by Environment for the Americas. 

Parade of Planets: Telescope Program 

  • Friday December 27,   6 - 8 pm   OR

  • Saturday December 28   6 - 8 pm   OR

  • Sunday December 29  6 - 8 pm 

NOTE: The program will be offered JUST ONCE on the night with the best weather forecast. Registered participants will get email updates about the night selected. 

Join Naturalist Dave Sutherland for a free trip through the Solar System. This December, a lucky lineup lets us view 7 of 8 planets in a single evening! Bring your holiday visitors along to dance with giant Jupiter’s moons, rejoice with Saturn’s rings, visit Venus (the Earth’s infernal twin) and marvel at the distant blue-green worlds of Uranus and Neptune. If you stay late, you can glimpse the polar ice caps on Mars. Note: we will not need telescopes to see the Earth. Jaw-dropping galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae added at no extra charge! Meet at the Joder Ranch Trailhead, 3 miles north of Boulder. It may be chilly, so definitely dress for the cold. 


Boulder’s Snowbirds
Saturday December 28, 9 am – noon
Do all the best birds fly south for the winter? No way! Some of our most beautiful—and comical—residents stay here all year long. Naturalist Dave Sutherland will lead a winter bird watching expedition on Shanahan Ridge so you can meet these little feathered marvels. Bring binoculars, bird guides, and be prepared for cold conditions and amazing sights.  PLEASE BRING  strap-on traction for footwear (e.g. micro-spikes or Yak-tracks) since the trail may be very slick and icy. We will meet at 1903 Leigh Street in Boulder; free parking is available along neighborhood streets. This program is sponsored by Environment for the Americas and is free and open to everyone. Birdwatchers of all levels are welcome, but beginners are cherished.  Limit: 15 participants.  Sign up from the Environment for the Americas web calendar here: https://environmentamericas.org/events/ 

Creating Shared Spaces: Backyard Gardens for Birds & Pollinators
Tuesday February 18, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
For 2025, the annual theme for World Migratory Bird Day is “Creating Shared Spaces.” Do you want to do your part to provide habitat for pollinators, baby birds and other critters of all sorts? Do you want to attract wildlife to your backyard? Join veteran naturalist and avid wildlife gardener Dave Sutherland for a slide program about his decades of experience (and making every mistake in the book) in order to maximize your garden’s beauty and benefits to the larger ecosystem. Bonus: get some free native plant seeds collected in Dave’s garden! This free program is sponsored by Environment for the Americas and the Lafayette Public Library. Meet at the Lafayette Public Library auditorium. More information: https://lafayettepubliclibrary.libcal.com/calendar/main

Creating Shared Spaces: Backyard Gardens for Birds & Pollinators
Tuesday March 4, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
For 2025, the annual theme for World Migratory Bird Day is “Creating Shared Spaces.” Do you want to do your part to provide habitat for pollinators, baby birds and other critters of all sorts? Do you want to attract wildlife to your backyard? Join veteran naturalist and avid wildlife gardener Dave Sutherland for a slide program about his decades of experience (and making every mistake in the book) in order to maximize your garden’s beauty and benefits to the larger ecosystem. Bonus: get some free native plant seeds collected in Dave’s garden! This free program is sponsored by Environment for the Americas and the North BoulderPublic Library. Meet at North Boulder Public Library’s second floor community room. More Info: https://calendar.boulderlibrary.org/event/13658840

Owl Moon
Friday March 14, 7:45 - 9:15 pm Reservations open Monday March 3 at 6 pm
As full moon rises over the prairie, leafless cottonwood trees become black twisted shapes against the sky. This is the world of the great horned owl -- a powerful and mysterious nocturnal predator. Naturalist Dave Sutherland will lead you into the moonlit world of owls on this easy nighttime hike. Meet at Bobolink Trailhead, on Baseline Road . Dress warmly and bring gloves. Also please consider strap-on traction for footwear (e.g. micro-spikes or yak-tracks) since the trail could be slick and icy. Bring flashlights just in case, but we shouldn’t need them.

Birdwatching for Beginners
Sunday March 30, 10 am - noon
Many would-be birders are intimidated by identical little gray birds with similar names. Learn some easy tricks to tell them apart and also tips for picking the best binoculars and bird books. Meet at the Coalton Trailhead for an easy hike along Superior’s Greenway.  Birders of all abilities welcome, but it’s primarily aimed at beginners. Bring binoculars and bird guides if you have them. Be prepared for possibly cold windy conditions and amazing sights. Sign up from the Superior Open Space web calendar here: https://secure.rec1.com/CO/superior-co/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTMzNTIyMTQ