A guide to watching wildlife

From hummingbirds to moose, Colorado has 'em. Here's how to find 'em.

By Mary Taylor Young, Special to the Rocky

Published May 25, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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Photo by Dennis Schroeder / The Rocky

A bull elk bugles to another bull in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder / The Rocky/2007

A young bull moose grazes in a meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park. The best time to spot a moose is in the early morning or evening.

Photo by istockphoto.com

A broad-tailed hummingbird

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky/2006

A moose munches on roses in a Loveland backyard.

Photo by Ken Papaleo / The Rocky/2004

A pelican stands in shallow water at Sloan's Lake. Ponds and lakes are favorite feeding sites.

Photo by Ken Papaleo / The Rocky/2001

Bighorn sheep like steep mountain slopes and cliffs, where they graze on grass.

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The sky is an incredible blue, the snow is melted (or melting) and the wildflowers are opening in a symphony of color. Today's the unofficial start of summer in Colorado, a great time to get out and watch wildlife.

Mountains, canyons and prairies make up the scenic fabric of our state, but it's wildlife that breathes life into the land. Colorado is home to more than 960 species, from salamanders to songbirds to large mammals. Here's a quick guide to our most watchable species - how to, when to and where to look for them.

Colorado nature writer Mary Taylor Young is author of nine books including The Guide to Colorado Birds; On the Trail of Colorado Critters: Wildlife Watching for Kids; and The Colorado Wildlife Viewing Guide. Her Words on Birds column appears monthly in the Rocky. MaryTaylorYoung.com

Elk

Standing as high as 5 feet at the shoulder and weighing 1,000 pounds, a bull elk with a full rack of antlers is an impressive sight. Elk gather in large groups during the fall rut, but in summer you'll find them living in two separate social groups: the bulls in all-male "bachelor herds" and the cows, calves and immature animals gathered in other herds.

* Where to look: Elk spend summer in high mountain meadows, where they graze on grass. When hiking or driving, scan open meadows of opposite slopes for glimpses of them. You may notice their pale rumps or large, dark shapes against the landscape. At midday, elk may move away from areas with a lot of activity into forest cover. Look for them in open areas throughout the foothills and mountain areas of the state, including Rocky Mountain National Park and the town of Estes Park, Elk Meadow Park in Evergreen, Golden Gate Canyon and Mueller state parks, Mount Evans and the Jeffco Open Space parks.

Moose

There's no denying it. A moose looks like an animal put together by committee: bulbous nose, ungainly body on long, knock- kneed legs and the goofiest antlers imaginable.

Moose are the largest members of the deer family. Solitary animals, they hang out around mountain streams, ponds and wetlands where they feed on aquatic plants and shrubs and trees growing along waterways. While they may look like cartoon characters, they are powerful and unpredictable. Never approach a moose and, if you encounter one, give it a wide berth.

* Where to look: You have the best chance of spotting a moose in the early morning or evening. Look for them in wet meadows, marshes and streamsides on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, in North Park, in the eastern San Juan Mountains along the Rio Grande River and its tributaries to the edge of the San Luis Valley, and on the Grand Mesa. For a great introduction to moose, visit the Moose Center near Walden in the Colorado State Forest.

American white pelican

Have you noticed those large, white birds cruising on ponds and lakes like sailing ships? People are often surprised to learn that they're pelicans. Colorado is home to thousands of them in summer. They gather in groups on shallow ponds and reservoirs where they fish cooperatively. Forming a skirmish line, the birds paddle together, herding fish into the shallows, or sometimes circling them. Then, with much splashing, they scoop up the fish using the skin pouches attached to their bills like dipnets.

* Where to look: Though pelicans look ungainly, they are masters in the air, with 9-foot wingspans. They look like small aircraft as they soar in elegant arcs high in the air, then come in for smooth water landings.

Look for pelicans on any shallow pond or lake throughout the Front Range and metro area, including Cherry Creek and Chatfield state parks and even ponds in the city, such as at Lakeside Amusement Park.

Bighorn sheep

The horns alone can weigh 30 pounds, an impressive load for the Colorado state animal to carry on his head. The male's horns grow so long they curl around and out from the face. Females have short, slender horns that curve back slightly.

* Where to look: Bighorn are true animals of the high country. Watch for them on steep mountain slopes and cliffs where they graze on grass, clinging to the rocks with the aid of spongy hooves. You can often pick them out by looking for their white rumps against the gray-brown landscape.

Bighorn are easily stressed, so never approach them. In places where they have become acclimated to people, such as on Mount Evans, visitors should resist the urge to feed the sheep handouts, which are unhealthy for the animals and encourage inappropriate behavior that can be dangerous to people. Look for sheep on Mount Evans, in Poudre and Big Thompson canyons and along Interstate 70 at the Georgetown sheep-viewing site.

Hummingbird

Zip! Zoom! Buzz! The broad-tailed hummingbird announces itself with a familiar buzzing trill. While all hummingbirds make buzzing sounds when they fly, the male broadtail is unique among North American hummers. Tapered feathers at the tips of the wings create slots through which wind whistles when the bird flies.

The broadtail is the classic hummingbird of the high country, arriving in late April and early May, then departing by late September. This shimmering emerald sprite, measuring only 4 inches from beak to tail, enlivens forests, meadows and waterways from the foothills to the high mountains.

* Where to look: During the summer, you will likely encounter hummingbirds on any mountain outing, especially in areas with blooming wildflowers, including those planted in communities such as Vail and Crested Butte. Residents of foothills neighborhoods can easily attract hummers to their yards with nectar feeders offering a mix of one part sugar to four parts water.

Wildlife Watch

* Learn more about when, where and how to responsibly view wildlife at Wildlife Watch, a half-day workshop offered by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Dates and locations vary; minimal fee. Call 303-291- 7258 or visit wildlife.state.co.us/ Viewing/Workshops/ WWWorkshops.htm.

Through an expert's lens

Tips for photographing wildlife from Rocky photojournalist Ken Papaleo:

* Go to a place where wildlife are known to hang out, such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Mount Evans and Pikes Peak. You'll have a better chance of finding animals, and the animals will be used to people being around - so they might not be scared off too easily. Out in the wild they most likely will hide from you.

* Do your shooting in the morning or evening. The light will be better, resulting in photos with impact, and the animals seem to be more active these times of the day.

* Have your camera set at auto exposure to start out with, so if the subject goes from sun to shade, you still will be able to record your photos. After getting some images first, if the animal is pretty content where he is, then you could switch to manual exposure to fine-tune your image.

* When shooting in morning or evening, make sure your ISO (film speed) is high enough to shoot a shutter speed of at least 250. This should be able to stop any movement of the animals. The higher the shutter speed, the better.

* If you're driving while looking for wildlife, shoot from your vehicle first, to make sure you get the photo. Then get out of the car to try for a better angle or use a different lens. Before you get out, make sure you take the keys out of the ignition - if you don't, the key alarm will most likely scare off your subject.

* If you are serious about photographing wildlife, you must have a long lens - 300 mm is the smallest I would go out with. I always have a 600 mm lens with me and also a tripod.

* Use auto focus. Most cameras today have an auto focus system that is faster and more accurate than if you did it yourself. This will enable you to get in-focus photos of animals on the move.

* When you spot an animal, shoot it right away, even if you don't have a clear view of it. Once you have that one in the bag, move slowly sideways - never forward, which the animal will interpret as aggression.

* The most important thing about wildlife photography: Be patient! Great animal photos take time.

Wildlife viewing ethics and etiquette

* Respect wildlife and don't disturb them, their dens, nests or habitat.

* Resist the urge to handle or rescue baby animals.

* Never chase, feed or handle wildlife.

* Leave pets at home or in the car. Never allow them to chase wildlife (it's against the law).

* Respect private land and do not enter without permission.

* Honor the rights of other wildlife watchers. Don't make loud noises or sudden movements, and don't leave at inappropriate times.

* No photograph or viewing opportunity is worth disturbing or endangering wildlife.

Viewing tips

* The first and last hours of the day are generally the best times to view or photograph wildlife.

* Trees, thickets and waterways are good areas to look for animals.

* For a close-up view, use binoculars, spotting scopes or telephoto lenses.

* Be quiet. Quick movements and loud noises will scare off animals.

* Use your car as a "blind" to watch animals without alarming them. When cover is unavailable, sit quietly, acting disinterested and gazing around you, not directly at the animals.

* Viewing wildlife is easier when you know their habits. Use field guides for information and identification.

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