12th Annual Snow Goose Festival, Not Just for the Birds and Birders!

LAMAR, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Lamar Chamber of Commerce are hosting a weekend full of fun, celebrating birds, watchable wildlife and historical heritage in southeastern Colorado. 

The 12th Annual Snow Goose Festival kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 20 and continues through Sunday, Feb. 23. New this year, registration is free!

“Visitors can choose from a wide variety of events to participate in,” Linda Groat, Education Specialist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said. “In addition to bird watching, people can tour beautiful historical sites, view amazing art and listen to the music of the old west.”

The four-day festival features dozens of special programs and something for the entire family. There are free wagon rides, several guided tours to choose from and, of course, a variety of magnificent birds to see.

Hundreds of bird species migrate through eastern Colorado each year, but the migration of snow geese is by far the most dramatic. Flocks numbering in the tens of thousands make for a spectacular sight.

“One of the highlights of the weekend is the early Sunday morning bus tour. Participants can watch approximately 25,000 geese take off from local reservoirs and fly to their daytime feeding grounds,” Groat said. “It’s a truly amazing sight.”

Field trips range in cost from $10 to $50, depending on the length of the program and if meals are provided. Numerous programs are also offered at no charge.

For more information about the Snow Goose Festival go to www.highplainssnowgoose.com

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Thursday, Feb. 20

Event: Registration, Hospitality Gathering
Time: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Shore Arts Center, 115 S. Main St.
Details: Unwind after your drive and pick up your registration packet for the weekend’s activities at the Shore Arts Center in downtown Lamar. Then, take part in the official kickoff for the festival! Meet folks, ask questions and enjoy hors d’oeuvres while you enjoy the musical talents of Lex Nichols and his flute. Nichols is a photographer, painter and musician and will be judging the photo contest at Amache Studio on Friday night. He will play again on Saturday in the gym.

Friday, Feb. 21

Event: Bent’s Forts – Old and New Tour
Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Meet at Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar Details: Take a step back in time on this tour to visit sites of historical significance. First, visit the site of Bent’s NEW Fort, a lesser known place in time. The next stop is  the Star School, a one- room school house. Also see Boggsville, Kit Carson’s last home, and discover Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site. Take a tour and learn about this landmark fur trading post and the famous people who lived there. Check out the great bookstore and gift shop. Bus, snacks, box lunch and tour guide provided. Cost is $35 per person.

Event: South Canyon Tour
Time: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Meet at Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar Details: Enjoy a full day of history, scenery and birding in the grasslands and canyon country in the southeast corner of Colorado. Visit Picture Canyon and Carrizo Canyon in the Comanche National Grasslands. See petrolgyphs on the canyon walls and hear stories of more recent human settlement in the area. Bus, snacks, box lunch and tour guide provided. Cost is $35 per person.

Event: Explore John Martin Birds with Ted Floyd
Time: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Meet at Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar Details: Explore the John Martin Reservoir area with Ted Floyd.  On the reservoir, chances are good to see snow geese, other waterfowl and bald eagles!  Below the dam and along the river, other winter residents can be found.  Easy walk. Bus and guide provided. Cost: $10.

Event: Registration, Hospitality Gathering
Time: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: Shore Arts Center, 115 S. Main St.
Details: Unwind after your drive and pick up your registration packet for the weekend’s activities at the Shore Arts Center in downtown Lamar. Meet folks, ask questions, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and enjoy the musical talents of our “Take Five” Jazz Quintet.

Event: Share the Spirit Photography Contest
Time: 5:30 p.m – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Amache Studio, Rd 34.5 and Rd HH, eight miles west of Lamar
Details: Second annual local photography contest in conjunction with the Snow Goose Festival. Winners will be announced Friday evening and have a reception with refreshments. Show hours also Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m – 3 p.m. Free of charge for the public. Entry forms and details at www.highplainsphotographers.com. Commissions benefit the Share the Spirit Foundation.

Event: Music of the Santa Fe Trail and the Far West
Time: 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Indoors at Colorado Parks and Wildlife Classroom, 2500 S. Main St., Lamar
Details: Mark Lee Gardner – Historian/Musician/Author will present “Music of the Santa Fe Trail and the Far West” with his 12 year-old son and fiddle player Vance Gardner. Mark and Vance will perform historic songs and music popular with mountain men, trail travelers, cowpunchers, outlaws and lawmen. Mark has appeared on the History Channel, PBS American Experience, NPR’s All Things Considered and BBC Radio. His most recent book is the critically lauded Shot All to Hell: Jesse James, the Northfield Raid, and the Wild West’s Greatest Escape. Mark’s books and CDs will be available for sale. Free program.

Saturday, Feb. 22

Event: Nature Arts and Crafts Fair
Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Lamar High School Gym, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Come see artisans display their creations, including artwork and crafts. Lex Nichols will entertain with his flute and Mark Gardner and son will play music from the Santa Fe Trail. Check out the Silent Auction – place your bids before the banquet! Visit with staff at the informational booths from Comanche National Grasslands, National Park Service, John Martin Reservoir, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Pueblo Raptor Center, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and more! All day Saturday.

Event: Silent Auction
Time: 8 a.m. – TBA
Location: Lamar High School Gym, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Tons of wonderful items and treasures donated by businesses and individuals! Proceeds help support next year’s festival.

Event: Birds of Prey – Up Close
Time: Mid-day
Location: Lamar High School Gym, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Visit the Pueblo Raptor Center booth to see some of their live hawks, eagles or owls up close! Indoors.

Event: Kids’ Zone
Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Lamar High School Gym, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Visit the Kids’ Zone for hands-on fun activities for kids of all ages. All day Saturday. Indoors.

Event: Raptor Tour and Breakfast with Greg Miller
Time: 7:30 a.m. – Noon
Location: Meet at Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Start the morning with a private breakfast at the Triple T Steakhouse in Granada. Then search for raptors with special guest Greg Miller of “The Big Year” for an all morning tour. Birds seen before on this route include bald eagle, golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, ferruginous hawk, rough-legged hawk, prairie falcon and others. May include a short walk near the river. Travel by bus. Limited tour. Cost is $50 per person, includes breakfast.

Event: Morning Bird Walk with Ted Floyd
Time: 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Location: Lamar Community College, 2401 S. Main St., Lamar
Details: Enjoy a morning walk through Lamar Community College Woods, one of the sites on the Colorado Birding Trail. Ted Floyd will present “Bare Naked Birding.” See and learn about birds without using fancy optics. Meet at North Trailhead, outdoors, behind Lamar Community College.

Event: Camp Amache – Japanese Internment Camp
Time: 8 a.m. – Noon
Location: Meet at Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Camp Amache, a Japanese Internment Camp during World War II, was located near the town of Granada. What started as a high school project, continues to grow today in preserving the site, creating a museum and making connections with the people who lived there and their descendants. There is now a wonderful museum full of memorabilia. This tour will visit the museum to see and hear from those who are rediscovering and preserving this chapter in history. A visit to the actual site will be included, weather permitting. Travel by bus. Cost is $15 per person.

Event: Raptor ID
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Lamar High School Auditorium, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Can you tell a Red-tail from a Rough-leg from a Ferruginous? Learn some tips on identifying those pesky raptors with Deb Barnes from Aiken Audubon in Colorado Springs. Raptors are birds of prey like hawks, eagles and falcons. Indoors.

Event: Seeing More than Feathers – Ted Floyd
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Lamar High School Auditorium, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Learn how to identify birds by looking at more than its feathers. Learn how to observe size, shape, behaviors, habits and habitat. Get some tips on seeing the big picture with Ted Floyd from the American Birding Association. Indoors.

Event: Birds of Prey – LIVE!
Time: 11 a.m. – Noon
Location: Lamar High School Auditorium, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Hawks, eagles and owls are birds of prey and big predators in the bird world. See live birds from the Pueblo Raptor Center. Diana Miller will tell of their efforts to rehabilitate injured and orphaned raptors. Indoors.

Event: Free Wagon Rides!!!
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m
Location: Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Enjoy a short wagon ride with your family and friends! Bring the kids! FREE, weather permitting. Leaving every 20 – 30 minutes from the front of Lamar High School.

Event: “The Big Year” with Greg Miller
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Lamar Theatre, 219 S. Main St., Lamar
Details: Take in a Matinee. Watch the movie “The Big Year” at the Lamar Theatre starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson! Afterward, Greg Miller will answer your questions about being a Big Year competitor, movie consultant and one of the birders the story was written about! Movie tickets are $5 per person. Popcorn and candy available for purchase at the concession stand.

Event: Two Buttes Birding Tour
Time: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Discover a hidden gem, a hidden canyon in the rolling plains of southeast Colorado! Two Buttes Reservoir State Wildlife Area, also known as “The Black Hole,” is an oasis and a must see when birding this corner of the state, especially during spring migration. Two Buttes Reservoir was filled to the brim this summer with rain water, after being dry for many years, making it once again another stop over spot for waterfowl. Ted Floyd from the American Birding Association will guide this trip. The trip will include some easy walking to explore the area. Travel by bus. Cost is $25 per person.

Event: Waterfowl Hunting Seminar
Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Classroom, 2500 S. Main St., Lamar
Details: Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Managers Kevin Mahan and Rick Gardner will present information about hunting waterfowl on the eastern plains of Colorado. Topics will range from the basics for beginners, to tips and techniques for the seasoned hunter. Indoors.

Event: In Search of Birds – Seth Gallagher
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: Meet at Lamar High School, 1900 S. 11th St., Lamar
Details: Late afternoon birding with Seth Gallagher, from Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Location to be determined depending on what’s happening with the birds at the moment or what the participants want to find! Travel by bus. Cost is $10 per person.

Event: Sand Creek Massacre and Wagon Tour at Big Timbers Museum
Time: 3:30 p.m – 5 p.m.
Location: Big Timbers Museum, 7515 US Hwy 50, Lamar
Details: Learn about the Sand Creek Massacre from the previous landowner of the site and the collection of artifacts at Big Timbers Museum. Also learn about historical wagons and wheel making from Pat Palmer and see their wonderful wagon collection. Cost is $2 per person.

Event: Evening Banquet
Time: 7 p.m. – Social hour begins at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Eagles Lodge, 1220 S. Main St., Lamar
Details: Join us for a delicious banquet. Must pre-register. Festival Grand Prizes will be awarded and you must be present to win. Vegetarian available. Cash bar. Cost: Adults $20, Children 6-12 $10.

Event: An Evening with Greg Miller
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Eagles Lodge, 1220 S. Main St. Lamar
Details: Greg Miller is a birder with stories to tell! He did a Big Year in 1998, where he tried to see as many species as possible in one year. It’s a somewhat competitive thing in the bird world. The adventures that year, turned into a book and then a movie. Join us for a fun program after the banquet.

Sunday, Feb. 23

Event: Sunrise Tour
Time: 5:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Office, 2500 S. Main St., Lamar
Details: Watch the snow geese wake up and fly off to their feeding grounds. Tour State Wildlife Areas and farm fields to see a variety of waterfowl including bald eagles, sandhill cranes, ducks and shorebirds. Warm up with a hearty breakfast and good company indoors at the Eads Community Center before the trip back to Lamar. Cost is $20 per person over age 6, includes breakfast. Outdoor tour by bus.

Event: Birding Ramble with Ted
Time: 7 a.m.
Location: Hickory House, 1115 N. Main St., Lamar
Details: Join Ted Floyd for a Sunday morning departure trip. We will meet for breakfast at the Hickory House at 7 a.m., then head west along US 50. Our itinerary will depend on the weather. We may stop in first at Hasty Campground or the dam at John Martin Reservoir, then continue west toward La Junta and the canyon country beyond. Almost anything is possible on this trip! We have seen everything from roadrunners to glaucous gulls. One year we even saw a hoary redpoll!
Feel free to check in with Ted during the festival for a better idea as to our itinerary. Also, it is fine just to meet the group at the Hickory House at 7 a.m. on Sunday. Please note that this trip does not return to Lamar. Transportation is on your own and after our conclusion in the early afternoon, we all go home our separate ways.

Contact the Lamar Chamber of Commerce for information and reservations at 719-336-4379 or visit the website at www.highplainssnowgoose.com for pricing and resevation information.

Refund policy- No refunds after Feb. 15, 2014.
A drawing for grand prizes will be held at the banquet Saturday night. You must be present to win!

More to do!!

Break up your road trip with stops at some of these great locations!

On the way to Lamar:

Fowler Historical Society Museum, Fowler
719-263-4046
www.fowlerheritage.com
The exhibits in the museum will give you a brief description of the land as the indians knew it. Prairie, rivers and canyons where the natives chipped their spear points in order to secure food, wrote their histories, drew their maps and painted and drew pictures of everyday life and their beliefs on the rock walls.

Rocky Ford Museum, Rocky Ford
719-254-6737
www.rockyfordmuseum.com
Follow the history of Rocky Ford from its founding through the 20th century. Featured exhibits include a history of the Arkansas Valley Fair and agricultural history, highlighting the world famous melons and beet sugar industry.

Otero County Museum, La Junta
719-384-7500
www.coloradoplains.com/otero/museum
Exhibits portray life and business during the early years of the lower Arkansas Valley, including feature displays focusing on railroads, military, postal, agricultural, business, transportation, schools and all other aspects of pioneer life.

Koshare Indian Museum and Kiva, La Junta
719-384-4411
www.kosharehistory.org
Built by the La Junta Boy Scout Troop under the inspired leadership of James Francis “Buck” Burshears, and the original 1949 structure, the Kiva, is a registered state historic site housing a collection of Native American art and artifacts considered to be among the finest in the world.

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, La Junta
719-383-5010
www.nps.gov/beol
Located eight miles east of La Junta on Hwy 194, the Fort is open for self-guided tours daily from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cost is $3 for adults, $2 for kids age 6-12.

John Martin Reservoir State Park, Hasty
719-829-1801
www.parksstate.co.us/parks/johnmartinreservoir
Sometimes called a sapphire on the plains, John Martin is a peaceful paradise in which people play, birds flock and wildlife roams. Majestic Bald Eagles roost here in winter and 400 species of birds have been recorded in Bent County. Threatened and endangered Piping Plovers and Least Terns nest here. Great-horned Owls, pelicans and all kinds of waterfowl can been seen as well as deer and bobcat. Very nice exhibits in the visitor center.

John Martin Reservoir Army Corps of Engineers Visitors Center, Hasty
719-336-3476
www.spa.usace.army.mil/recreation/jm
Dinosaur exhibit- The tracks are from the Iguanodon dinosaur that lived around 95 million years ago. The John Martin tracks are located on what Dr. Martin Lockley refers to as the “dinosaur freeway” which followed the inland sea of that period. The exhibit has been designed by the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park. The tracks are those found at several sites in 2003 exposed by low water levels due to drought conditions.

Kiowa Creek Natural Area at Jackson’s Pond, Eads
719-438-2200
See how this community has moved to save their natural area and wetland for birds and still develop. The spring-fed Kiowa Creek is a magnet for wildlife in a dry arid prairie and the area is an important “fly-over” spot for migrating birds in the spring and fall.

Big Timbers Museum, Lamar
719-336-2472
www.bigtimbersmuseum.org
Winter hours 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday. 7515 US Hwy 50.

Camp Amache Museum, Granada
www.amache.org or amache@usa.com
Camp Amache, a Japanese Internment Camp during World War II, was located near the town of Granada. The site has been preserved and is now home to a museum full of memorabilia. Email to request a private tour.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, more than 300 state wildlife areas, all of Colorado’s wildlife, and a variety of outdoor recreation. For more information, go tocpw.state.co.us.

For more news about Colorado Parks and Wildlife go to: http://cpw.state.co.us
For more information about Colorado Parks and Wildlife go to: http://cpw.state.co.us.

 

Contact Name: Abbie Walls
Contact Phone: 719-227-5211