After hearing that the management team at Red Rocks Park wished to discuss some ways to maintain cordial relations with birders at the Red Rocks Trading Post, I met last week with Dennis K. Brown, the Senior Park Ranger, and with Chris Labadie, the landscaper in charge of the the park and with the manager of the Trading Post, an Aramark concession.
Each of these nice folks is quite supportive of birding at the park and bird feeding, which has been allowed there for decades. However, they wanted to point out that it worked best if seed was placed in the western "rustic area" in order to keep excessive seed and seed hulls from piling up on the adjacent lawn and on the stone steps.
A couple of us went over there recently and cleaned the place up; we may need to do this every couple of weeks or so.
Gwen Moore worked hard this fall to line up volunteers who have been taking seed for the birds there each day, according to a schedule. Kudos to her and the diligent team she assembled! It's not always easy to get up so early and work in the cold.
The new plan I worked out with the management on behalf of us birders is to put down seed on the feeder at the west end, also west of the crabapple tree by the dry pond, west of that pond and at least 3-4 feet away from any grass or stairs. There is to be no seed spread into the dry pond or its dry fountain. For now we will not be putting seed in the east "pole feeder." That will soon be moved to a rocky area so turf grass, which is pretty smothered, can recover. Tom Bush kindly placed both feeders and is supplying Gwen's team with discounted seed from the Front Range Birding Company. That team will also place seed along the outer edge of the long south wall, in limited areas, where there is no turf grass near.
So when you visit the Trading Post, it is not necessary to bring seed with you - it's being taken care of, especially on the coldest days. If you must, then consider bringing "no mess blend," hull free. And even consider taking a broom or rake. It just takes a moment to keep seed husks off the stairs, where it can be a trip hazard.
The Ranger also asked me to remind birders that every visitor to the Trading Post area, whether or not a birder, has an equal right to enjoy the scenery, take photos, and wander where they please. I believe this was the Ranger's polite way of telling me that it is NOT okay for birders to tell other visitors that they can't go near the birds, or have to stand back, or that kids can't play near the areas where the birds typically show themselves. These areas are places of public access, where no type of user has any better right than any other. So, for example, if there are kids playing out there near the birds, bite your tongues while biding your time, or come back later. Chances are good the birds will still be there.
Birders are good neighbors, and we'll continue the privilege of feeding birds at Red Rocks.
Respectfully,
Joe Roller,
Denver
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