Bird-watchers explore Hecla Lake in Louisville – Boulder Daily Camer…

Bird-watching allows people to see eagles flying high above looking for their prey, or to see a family of geese have surprisingly polite trail manners.

Linda Lee hosted a bird walk tour along Hecla Lake in Louisville on Sunday. Lee is a certified Master Birder through Denver Audubon. She used to work at The Nature Conservancy, which started her love for bird spotting, and she has been hooked since.

“The more you know, the more you don’t know. There is just so much to learn about birds,” Lee said.

She noted that birding is accessible and a good way for people to get outside and enjoy open space. She said that there are many apps, such as eBird, BirdCast and Merlin, that help with identifying birds and knowing the best spots to go bird-watching. She also noted that Louisville provides a Hecla Lake bird checklist, which identifies the birds common to the area.

Lee led a group of 10 around Hecla Lake and pointed out the different birds in the area. The group consisted of people who had been birding for years and others who said it was their first time on a bird walk. With binoculars and long lens cameras in hand, the group slowly made their way around the lake, stopping often to look at the birds.

The group was able to spot birds common to the area, as well as an eagle and a hawk that flew by the lake. Lee said that she finds it fun to be able to spot birds and be able to name them. Throughout the bird walk, she was quick to point out the different birds she found. The group identified goldfinches, a mourning dove, a few red-winged blackbirds, many snowy egrets and many other species. Some birders were able to identify bird calls and point them out to the group, such as that of the black-capped chickadee, whose song sounds like its chickadee name. The group also came across many Canada geese and their goslings, which were used to pedestrian traffic along the lake trail.

Lee said that going out in groups to go birding is a great way to see many more birds, as others may spot something that could have been missed.

“Birding is part treasure hunt, part intellectual challenge and part enjoyment of nature,” Lee said.

She said that it is fun to go out and try to identify all the birds in an area. Birds can often look similar, but taking the time to learn what makes each species unique and being able to spot them in the wild is one of Lee’s favorite pastimes.

Nicole Sheckells said that she has been bird-watching since 2018, and has seen almost 200 types of birds since. She said that her and her sister have traveled across the country and attended many bird walks. Sheckells said that birding is a relaxing way to enjoy nature. Sheckells was there with her friend Janelle Pedigo, who was on her bird walk.

“I’ve been observing from my birdfeeder, but I wanted to learn more,” Pedigo said.

She noted that she had been birding from her home, simply watching the birds that came by her house to eat, but she wanted to know more about them. So her birding friend Sheckells invited her to the birdwalk.