Birding for Everyone Trail
Grand Valley Audubon has the notion that all people should have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. More than a year ago the GVAS board began to explore ways to encourage people of all capabilities to enjoy our little corner of the world.
We began in 2010 by inviting Carol Hunter to be a guest speaker at one of our monthly programs. Carol is the author of Everyone’s Nature, a guide to help wildlife and land management specialists provide opportunities for all visitors to participate fully in outdoor recreation facilities and programs. Carol brought in- sightful information to help us evaluate and improve our site so that people of all abilities feel welcome.
To find out more about Carol and the work that she does, check out Partners for Access to the Woods (PAW) at www.outdoors4all.org.
“Welcome” is such a common word, but one with a very important meaning. It means “received with pleasure and hospitality into one’s company”.
For over 24 years, PAW (Partners for Access to the Woods) and our partners have worked together to answer the question of “How can an outdoor recreation facility or program be designed so all are included or more importantly each individual feels welcome?”
Inspired by Carol, the GVAS board decided to develop the Birding for Everyone trail. Located on the east side of the Ela Sanctuary, the trail towards the Colorado River where it ends on an overlook giving good view of the riparian habitat. Once again, Bob Wilson took the lead in developing the trail.
It’s nearly completed thanks to many volunteers, and special assistance from the Western Colorado Conservation Corp.
Grand Junction Lions Club recently donated $4500 for 4 motion sensor digital players that will be installed in signs along the trail. The players will provide information about the variety of birds, animals and habitat in the area.
Email from Bob Wilson dated January 19, 2012:
"The Western Colorado Conversation Corps asked if they could do some trail building training on the Ela Sanctuary. I authorized them to do some exploratory work on the proposed trail on the west side of the Ela Sanctuary next to the Connected Lakes State Park.
I see this as a very rough trail with uneven surface winding through the 1983-84 cottonwood forest. There are lots of down trees and lot of beaver downed trees. It is impossible to walk through the area so the Corps can get experience with chainsaws.
If anyone would like to get involved in this please get in contact with me soon. I really do want to start another project."
