This wetland harnesses hot springs for year-round activity
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PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colo. — Ben Bailey stood at the edge of the wetlands, surrounded by birdsong. He raised a pair of binoculars, scanning for the source of the melody. A red-winged blackbird darted from behind the trees and disappeared into the marsh.
“We have just over 40 species that nest along the river, but we’ve documented 193 species overall, and I’ve seen every one of them,” said Bailey, a local birder.
Video: Ziyi Xu, Rocky Mountain PBS
Some of the most commonly seen birds at the Pagosa Springs Wetland are the American robin, tree swallow, American wigeon and mallard.
Around 2006, the town of Pagosa Springs began transforming a stretch of land along the San Juan River, once used for grazing and gravel pits, into a space for wildlife and community use. The result is a 15-acre protected wetland with three main ponds.
The Pagosa Springs Wetlands are unique from others in the state due to the flow of warm groundwater and runoff from the town’s natural hot springs.
“The wetlands stay open in winter, and the ponds don’t freeze,” said Linda Mozer, coordinator of the Pagosa Wetlands Partnership. “That means birds can live here year round. Other animals also benefit, since it provides access to fresh water during the coldest months.”
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, less than 2% of the state’s landscape is composed of wetlands, but more than three-quarters of Colorado species benefit from these areas. Half of Colorado’s wetlands have been lost, according to the agency.
Mozer regularly leads tours along the river and said many visitors, and even some locals, are surprised to learn the wetlands exist right in town.
“It’s important to have these wetlands as a reminder of what was, and what’s still possible,” Mozer said. “They show the biodiversity and ecosystem we have here, and I hope we continue to protect that.”
Bailey has been birding in Pagosa Springs for 20 years. He walks along the San Juan River nearly every day, documenting species and uploading his sightings to eBird, a global public database of bird observations.
“When I first started birding here, I saw maybe 40 or 50 species,” Bailey said. “Now, we’ve recorded 193. The improvements to this habitat have created food, shelter and nesting sites for many more birds.”
“It’s never the same,” he added. “I can come out here every day for 20 years and still see something new.”
Type of story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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