WORKING AT ARAPAHO

Our work truck, a 2011 Ford F250 4 X 4
Once a week we take the truck out and get it REALLY muddy doing water flow readings (CFS) at the many flumes located within the Refuge irrigation network.



North Park Phacelia is an endangered plant found only in Jackson County, Colorado. It is found in less than 10 locations with two sites having significant numbers, both found within the Refuge.
Our project was to conduct the annual plant survey. To accomplish this we located 100 preset monuments using a Garmin GPS unit along with a metal detector. Once the monument is located we lay out a PVC grid. We then count the phacelia as well as all other plants within the grid.



We spent a morning last week helping the biologist capture and band song birds. Several kinds of birds were captured in large suspended nets. To the left is a Yellow Warbler.







The birds are measured, weighed, sexed, banded and released.






To the left is the biologist holding a Warbling Vireo


Just outside our kitchen window is one of many Refuge Tree Swallow houses. We have enjoyed watching the birds raise their babies and now the family enjoys sitting on our hanging flower basket.

ARAPAHO NWR, WALDEN, COLORADO

We arrived at Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge on June 22. This 23,000 acre Refuge is located in an intermountain glacial basin south of Walden, Colorado. This high desert basin, situated at 8400 feet, is approximately 35 miles wide and 45 miles long. From our site, we can see mountains in all directions. The primary focus of the Refuge is providing environment for nesting and migratory birds.


REFUGE HEADQUARTERS OVERLOOK

During our first two weeks we made repairs to the boardwalk on the half mile nature loop. Over the winter boards become loose and the boardwalk was in general need of sprucing up. We also learned and have begun to help with the annual vegetative sampling. This project is performed in June and July of each year. The task involves locating transect monuments placed randomly about the refuge using a Trimble GPS running TerraSync. We then record the type and size of vegetation found within a 30 meter tape.

LUPIN

Walden is the moose capital of Colorado. We visited the Moose Viewing Visitor Center located within State Forest State Park.

COLUMBINE - COLORADO STATE FLOWER

Fish Creek Falls just outside of Steamboat Springs.

Alpine Visitor Center at the top of Rocky Mountain National Park.