Falcon colorado scenery9/11/2023 ![]() Throughout the 1980s, captive-bred peregrine falcons were also released at Dinosaur NM in a process called hacking. Hack box at New River Gorge National River. Although fostering did not eliminate normal chick mortality, it did help to maintain normal brood sizes during the period of eggshell thinning. But it was a very, very, very successful program."Įggs collected at Dinosaur NM were taken to breeding facilities where researchers incubated them and cared for the young after they hatched. They could go from pregnancy to teenagers in one fell swoop it was a shock to their system. ![]() According to Steve Petersburg, a resource management specialist at Dinosaur NM in the early 1990s, "The parents were totally fooled. To protect thin-shelled eggs -a result of DDT -biologists collected eggs from nest sites and replaced them with peregrine chicks from a breeding facility. In 1974, the state of Colorado began a peregrine falcon recovery program two years later, Dinosaur National Monument joined the effort.Īs part of the recovery program, adult peregrine falcons at Dinosaur NM became foster parents to young birds. Peregrine falcons- identified as an endangered species in 1970-were on the decline across the United States, thanks to the effects of the pesticide DDT. I never had the feeling I was in nature.In the late 1970s, Dinosaur NM was home to four peregrine falcons…half of the peregrine population in Colorado. There are just too many people along the Front Range these days this will be our last hike near Denver. ![]() I was overall impressed by everyone's trail etiquette (on this trail, hikers have the right-of-way over everyone else) and I liked that this route is dog-friendly (we brought our three!). I wanted to go on a hike.not participate in an obstacle course. We arrived at the trailhead on a Monday morning at 0730 and the parking lot was almost full. The downside - too many people, including bikers. There is a placard located at the castle containing information about the castle's builder/owner and the history of the area. You can also see Dinosaur Ridge from the hike! Of course, the castle at the top was very fascinating. The views of Denver and Red Rocks are phenomenal throughout much of this hike. While hikers gain 1200 feet in elevation, this hike is really easy. The trail is wide, well-marked, and well-maintained, and the grade is very gentle. *** These trail heads close once the weather turns bad.įantastic trail, great views, but way too crowded. It was fun, new, and gave some surprise views of a city I love. The trail is challenging enough to be fun, but easy enough that my sister's 5 year old could handle it, as well as my 73 year old mom. The beauty of the trail is that it takes you high enough after just 15 minutes to have a breathtaking view of Down Town Denver and is adjacent to Red Rocks Amphitheater, which is beautiful as well. We took the Turkey Trot trail because it is pedestrians-only, no bikes allowed. It is the trail head for some great trails. After just a mile or two you come upon the Mount Falcon Park. The gem of the day was going south on HWY 6 from Morrison. Food was a little greasy, but good considering it was a little country kitchen in a tiny town. ![]() We ate at the TNT Country Kitchen which had a lovely outdoor seating area adjacent to the river. Morrison itself is a sleepy little town with a few good restaurants and a few greasy beer joints. Just a 20 minute ride down C-470 from the Highlands Ranch housing area. I grew up in the suburbs of Denver and while visiting recently I wanted something new to do. ![]()
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