Colorado offers abundant wildlife viewing year-round, with over 400 bird species and biodiverse landscapes offering something new to experience. Here are some tips for a great trip:

• Stay quiet and still. Noise and sudden movement signal danger and may cause animals to flee, sometimes abandoning nests or young.
• Wear earth tones (gray, khaki, olive green) to blend in.
• Learn to properly focus your binoculars.
• Look to habitat edges — where forest meets meadow, for example — since wildlife often gathers there. Watch for motion, shapes, and color contrasts, or telltale parts like a head, ear, or antler.
• Move slowly and at an angle, not straight at the animal, so it can keep you in view without being startled. Avoid direct eye contact.
• Practice safe, ethical viewing.
• Research the species you hope to see beforehand.
• Use the iNaturalist app to identify and log your sightings.