Wise and Wonderful Great Horned Owls
Great Horned Owls are surprisingly hard to find given that they are so large. Their camouflage and silent flights in the twilight keep them hidden.
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Mountain Forests
Colorado Mountain Forests – mostly pine and aspen – in the Colorado mountains at elevations 5,500 – 9,000 feet
Charming American Goldfinches
American Goldfinches are charming birds that resemble canaries. Males are bright yellow with black caps and black wings making them easy to spot.
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Narrowleaf Cottonwood Trees
The Narrowleaf Cottonwood tree is found in the Denver metro area and also can be seen along the river and creek banks up into the mountains. It is found along stream and river beds and floodplains where it can get the regular moisture and periodic flooding that it needs. If you ever see a tree
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Quaking Aspen trees
Quaking Aspen Trees are found in the mountains in groves. They are known for their display of gold leaves in the fall.
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Wild Licorice Shrub
The Wild Licorice shrub is about 4 feet tall and grows in patches. It is most often found in late summer through winter when you are discover that you have many Velcro-like seed pods stuck to your clothing after walking along a path.
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Cattails
Cattails are plants with long flat leaves that are found in marshy areas around ponds. In this area, there are two main types: Broadleaf cattail and Narrowleaf cattail.
Beavers at Willow Spring Open Space!
When greeting people in the open space, most aren’t very excited to talk about plants, and some are excited about birds, but nearly everyone is excited to talk about the larger mammals that can be found there. These days, in the summer of 2021, the talk is all about beavers! A Bit about Beavers The
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Blue Mustard flowers
Blue Mustard plants are annual herbs that are among the earliest blooms in the Willow Spring Open Space. Their tiny flowers are purple and in the shape of a cross.
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Red-winged Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbirds are known as marsh birds, and that is where you will find them in the Willow Spring Open Space. If you look among the willows and cattails, you can see and hear their large numbers.
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Red-tailed Hawks
If you see a large bird soaring above the Willow Spring Open Space, chances are good that it is a Red-tailed Hawk. As it turns, you may be able to notice the rust colored tail that the name describes.