In this winter episode of Tale Feathers, host Eva Lark explores the joy of birding in every form, from “yard lists” to big community bird walks, and how paying attention to birds can help us feel more grounded where we live.

Eva is joined by Ted Floyd, renowned birder and Editor of Birding magazine, the award-winning flagship publication of the American Birding Association. Ted is also a prolific writer and educator, with more than 200 articles and scholarly works on birds and nature, and has recently revitalized three new National Geographic bird field guides that were published in 2025.

Together, they talk about the many ways people connect with birds, how journaling and curiosity can shape a life in nature, and why birders are so committed to facts, evidence, and learning. You will also meet one of Boulder County’s most common but often overlooked winter birds, the cackling goose, and learn how to tell it apart from the Canada goose. Plus, Ted shares favorite winter birding spots in and around Boulder County, and ways to join the local birding community.

In this Episode:

• Yard birding, life lists, and why there is no right way to be a birder
• Ted Floyd’s path into birding through journaling, observation, and a childhood love of nature
• How birding builds community and creates connection across backgrounds and experience levels
• Field journaling today, including eBird, iNaturalist, photography, audio recordings, and detailed notes
• Birding with kids, starting early, nurturing curiosity, and seeing the world through their eyes
• Behind the scenes of Ted’s 2025 National Geographic field guides and why a field guide can feel like haiku
• Meet Your Neighbor: Cackling Goose and how to tell it apart from the Canada Goose
• Winter goose flocks in Boulder County, including snow goose, Ross’s goose, greater white fronted goose, brant, and hybrids
• What winter bird sightings can reveal about climate change, habitat shifts, and changing migration patterns
• The power of community science and why documenting birds matters
• Favorite winter birding spots in and near Boulder County, plus local outings and upcoming migration events

Featured Resources:

• Spark Bird Stories: https://www.spark-bird.org/
• Bird species profiles:
• Townsend’s Solitaire - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/townsends_solitaire
• Cackling Goose - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cackling_Goose/
• Parks & Open Space Event Calendar: https://discover.bouldercounty.gov/
• Lagerman Agricultural Preserve: https://bouldercounty.gov/open-space/parks-and-trails/lagerman/
• eBird: https://ebird.org/
  Ted’s eBird profile: https://ebird.org/profile/MTEyMDgz/world
• iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/
• Christmas Bird Count: https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count
• World Migratory Bird Day: https://www.migratorybirdday.org/




Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.

Sustainability, climate action, and resilience are more than buzzwords in Boulder County. They are a shared commitment and a roadmap for what comes next.

In this episode of Voices of Open Space, host Melissa Arnold sits down with Tim Broderick, Senior Sustainability Strategist at Boulder County’s Office of Sustainability, Climate Action, and Resilience (OSCAR), to explore how local action can lead to lasting change.

Listeners will also join Melissa and Tim onsite as they visit Andy Breiter, founder of Grama Grass & Livestock, who received a Boulder County Soil Health Initiative grant in 2024. Together, they bring the conversation to the ground—showing how regenerative agriculture, rotational grazing, and healthy soils can strengthen climate resilience, support farmers and ranchers, and build a more sustainable future.

From nature-based solutions to community-scale planning, this is a hopeful, practical look at what it means to amplify the power of nature in Boulder County.

In This Episode:

• An introduction to Boulder County’s Office of Sustainability, Climate Action, and Resilience (OSCAR) and how it supports a sustainable, just, and resilient community
• How local climate action takes shape through building decarbonization, transportation electrification, and natural climate solutions
• An onsite visit with Andy Breiter, founder of Grama Grass & Livestock, and a look at how the 2024 Boulder County Soil Health Initiative grant supports regenerative agriculture
• A deep dive into healthy soils, rotational grazing, and why soil health is key to climate resilience and food systems
• How nature-based solutions like beaver habitat restoration, forestry management, green roofs, and biochar can amplify the power of nature
• The role of data, policy, and community partnerships in shaping Boulder County’s climate future
• A hopeful vision for what Boulder County could look like 50 years from now

Featured Resources:

• Boulder County’s OSCAR website: https://bouldercounty.gov/climate/
• Resolution for the 2016 Sustainability tax, has great descriptions of why the residents of BOCO chose to support this https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2016-79-gad-sst-open-space-and-sustainability-0.250pct.pdf
• Nature Based Solutions, Boulder County site: https://bouldercounty.gov/climate/nature-based-solutions/
• Boulder County’s Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund https://bouldercounty.gov/climate/food-ag-grant/
• Boulder County’s Soil Health Initiative: https://bouldercounty.gov/climate/soil-health-initiative/
• USDA Principles of Soil Health https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soil/soil-health
• Zero Foodprint’s Restore Colorado https://bouldercounty.gov/climate/food-and-agriculture/restore-colorado/ (work with restaurants in BOCO, 1% surcharge on bills that goes back to the farms)
• Grama Grass & Livestock https://www.gramagrasslivestock.com/
• Liability Biomass Study https://bouldercounty.gov/climate/forest-waste/ (this is the actual study PDF https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Boulder_Final_Biomass_Report_FNL3.pdf)
• 2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Boulder County, CO, a study that utilized a Consumption-Based Emissions Inventory (CBEI) that looks at Scope 3 emissions, which are not generated directed in the local supply chain (ordering things from Amazon…) Website: https://bouldercounty.gov/climate/2021-ghg-inventory/ and here is the actual PDF of the study: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b84cd2357f9a4a5f9e094309b692a41e
• Urban Landscape Toolkit https://bouldercounty.gov/news/toolkit-integrating-nature-into-urban-planning-now-available/
• Grey to Green Fund, Sustainability Tax supports this – impervious to pervious https://bouldercounty.gov/government/grants/grey-to-green-fund/

What makes an independent bookstore thrive for over 50 years? Step into one of Boulder’s most beloved cultural landmarks.

In this episode of Voices of Open Space, host Eva Lark sits down with two longtime stewards of Boulder Bookstore—Manager and Head Buyer Arsen Kashkashian and Marketing & Promotions Manager Stephanie Schindhelm—to explore the magic behind an independent bookstore that has shaped community, creativity, and conversation since 1973.

Together, they reflect on their personal journeys, the evolution of Boulder Bookstore over the past five decades, and the vital role bookstores play as a “third place” where ideas, authors, and readers meet. The conversation then turns to an eclectic and thoughtfully curated list of 20 standout book recommendations for 2025, spanning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s books, graphic novels, and local authors—perfect for avid readers, curious explorers, and meaningful gift-givers alike.

Whether you love discovering your next great read, find the perfect gift, or simply want to understand why independent bookstores matter more than ever, this episode invites you to turn the page and linger awhile.

*** DISCLAIMER:  Boulder County Parks & Open Space does not endorse or promote any businesses. References made in this podcast are solely for the purpose of highlighting shared values and recognizing cultural landmarks within our community.

Featured Resources:

• Boulder Bookstore Website: https://boulderbookstore.net
• BB Instagram: instagram.com/boulderbookstore
• BB Youtube: youtube.com/@BoulderBookstore
• Donate to the Literacy Foundation: https://boulderbookstore.net/Foundation
• Upcoming Reader's Retreat: https://boulderbookstore.net/ReadRetreat

Book List (in Order Mentioned):

• Buffalo Hunter Hunter
• Once Upon a Kwanzaa
• The Martians
• Worthy
• Endling
• Butt or Face
• Little Mercy
• Bud Finds Her Gift
• Wanderlust
• Big Jim Believes
• 1929
• Tales of Pirates
• Portrait of Boulder
• The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang
• A Complete Fiction
• Away
• The Correspondent
• Legendary Frybread Drive In
• What We Can Know
• The Coven Tendency
• Gift: Monopoly

🎧 Subscribe to Voices of Open Space on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen and join us in protecting what makes Boulder County wild, rooted, and resilient. (https://linktr.ee/VoicesofOpenSpace)

Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.

Did you know cormorants can dive over 100 feet underwater? Or that the Christmas Bird Count has been going strong for 125+ years?

In this second episode of Tale Feathers, Eva Lark is joined by Lauren Szabo from Environment for the Americas for a cozy and curious conversation about backyard birds, the mighty California condor, diving cormorants, and how to prepare for winter birding in Colorado.

In This Episode:
• Northern Flicker: ground-loving woodpecker
• Spark Bird stories 🪶
• Tips for birding in the snow ❄️
• Christmas Bird Count traditions 🎄
• A condor encounter that might just make you cry

Featured Resources:
Parks and Open Space Foundation: https://preservebouldercounty.org/ 
Environment for the Americas: https://environmentamericas.org/ 
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Condor Work: https://science.sandiegozoo.org/species/california-condor
Spark Bird Stories: https://www.spark-bird.org/

Bird species profiles:

• Northern Flicker
• Sandhill Crane
• Neotropic Cormorant
• California Condor

Christmas Bird Count: https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count
Parks & Open Space Event Calendar: https://discover.bouldercounty.gov/

Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.

Have you ever heard of the phenomenon called plant blindness?
Most people haven’t—and yet it shapes the way we understand nature, conservation, and even our own backyard.

Boulder County is home to more than 1,600 native plant species—half of all native plants found in the entire state of Colorado. Thanks to the dramatic rise of the Rocky Mountains and the steep elevation changes from plains to tundra, our county holds an incredible variety of ecosystems packed into less than 40 miles.

But when you picture Boulder County’s open space, what comes to mind? A moose at Caribou Ranch? Tracks in the mud? A bald eagle overhead? We often notice wildlife long before we notice the plants that make their lives—and ours—possible.

In this episode, Director Therese Glowacki sits down with three members of the Boulder County Parks & Open Space Plant Ecology Work Group:

• David Hirt, Senior Plant Ecologist with 28 years of service

• Carrie Cimo, Plant Ecologist and Volunteer Program Manager of 11 years

• Brad Winckelmann, Plant Ecologist who has contributed to many major vegetation projects over the past 6 years

Together, they explore what “plant blindness” means, why it matters, how it affects conservation, and how we can all learn to see the plants that shape our ecosystems. They break down this concept with clarity, passion, and years of field experience, helping us open our eyes to the extraordinary world of plants all around us.

• Colorado Natural Heritage Program (https://cnhp.colostate.edu/)
• iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org)
• Colorado Native Plant Society (https://conps.org/)
• Boulder County Parks and Open Space Volunteer Opportunities (https://bouldercounty.gov/volunteer/parks-and-open-space/)

Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.

This episode takes you inside the Left Hand Outdoor Challenge (LHOC) — a free outdoor leadership and community engagement program designed for Boulder County high school students. Through monthly base camps and Saturday service challenges, LHOC gives teens hands-on experience in trail work, stewardship, winter survival skills, volunteerism, and outdoor careers.

Host Bethany Eveleth speaks with:
• Ranger Sully Tun-Ake — Program Coordinator• Julietta Rozin — former participant & current mentor• Ranger Sarah Andrews — Caribou Ranch• Ranger John Queen — Hall Ranch

They share stories of confidence-building, mentorship, identity, and the joy of seeing teens fall in love with nature — sometimes for the very first time.

If you enjoy this episode, please like, subscribe, and share. It helps more people discover the important work happening across our parks and open spaces.

📌 In this Episode:

• How LHOC empowers teens outdoors
• Monthly base camps + Saturday service challenges
• Hands-on skills: winter survival, trail work, first aid
• Building confidence, agency, and leadership
• Mentorship, squad structure, and belonging
• Exploring careers in natural resources
• Ride-alongs, job shadowing, career fairs
• Stories of transformation and returning participants
• Ranger perspectives from the early days
• Why community + stewardship matter in Boulder County

Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.

To learn more, visit: https://bouldercounty.gov/open-space/get-involved/left-hand-outdoor-challenge/

Among the many who have helped shape Boulder County Parks & Open Space’s fifty-year journey stands Ann Cooper—a volunteer naturalist, educator, and writer who has dedicated nearly five decades to sharing the beauty of our open spaces. Her story intertwines with the department’s own—from leading pond adventures at Walden Ponds to inspiring generations of children and families to become “Nature Detectives.”

In this heartfelt conversation, host Larry Colbenson, former Natural History Program Coordinator, reunites with Ann to reflect on the evolution of the Volunteer Naturalist Program, the power of curiosity, and the enduring magic of teaching children to see the world with wonder.

Together, they remind us that open space is more than land—it’s a living classroom, a gathering place, and a gift that continues to grow with each new generation.

✨ A tribute to those who give their time, their knowledge, and their hearts to the land—and to the spirit of service that has shaped fifty years of Parks & Open Space.

The episode includes:

• Trust-building & community co-creation
• Inclusive hiring, power-sharing, and belonging at work
• Accessibility: transcripts and universal design that help everyone
• Indigenous ways of knowing; thinking across generations
• Flood & wildfire recovery (e.g., St. Vrain), working with nature
• Adaptive management, competing objectives, and funding realities
• Care, connection, and culture as resilience

Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.

In the values series finale, host Elisabeth Rios-Brooks gathers Boulder County Parks & Open Space staff to explore our last two guiding values.
For Inclusion, she speaks with Emma Dhimitri (Community Health Specialist, CSU Extension), Jarret Roberts (Deputy Director of Community Amenities), and Lucero Torres (Senior Park Ranger) about building true belonging—from outreach and inclusive hiring to “planning for the outliers” so everyone benefits.

For Resilience, she’s joined by Justin Atherton-Wood (Planning Group Supervisor), Ernst Strenge (Senior Planner), and Sharla Benjamin (Engineer) to examine systems-level resilience: caring for one another, learning from the land, and designing projects that bounce forward after floods and fires.

Topics & themes: trust-building with underserved communities; inclusive hiring and power-sharing; equitable service delivery; accessibility (transcripts & universal design); Indigenous ways of knowing; flood and wildfire recovery; adaptive management on the St. Vrain; caring cultures at work; belonging as a resilience strategy; transparency and long-view planning.

Subscribe to Voices of Open Space for more stories from the field, the forest, and the folks behind the work.

Original music, including the theme song and all transitional pieces, was composed and performed by Tim Ostdiek.

Resident Ranger Kevin Grady joins host Melissa Arnold to reveal what park management really looks like, well beyond recreation. Hear his mountain lion encounter, how staff rebuilt after the Cal-Wood Fire and the 2013 flood, why wildlife/seasonal and muddy-trail closures matter, how elk management works, and the volunteer power behind it all—plus hear about Dottie, his search-and-rescue pup.

The episode includes:

• A close encounter with mountain lions
• Stories of wildfire and flood recovery
• Why closures (wildlife, seasonal, muddy trail) matter
• Elk management and adaptive strategies
• The vital role of volunteers
• Introducing Dottie, the search-and-rescue dog

Featured Resources

• Volunteer with Parks & Open Space
• Elk Management
• Heil Valley Ranch Cal-Wood Recovery
• Flood Recovery Projects
• Parks and Trails
• Parks & Open Space Regulations
• Boulder County man leaves animals behind as he flees CalWood Fire

In this debut episode of the Tale Feathers mini-series, Eva Lark takes flight into a heartfelt and wonder-filled journey through the birds and birding joys of summer 2025 in Boulder County.

Blending the soothing soundscape of Hall Ranch’s Antelope Trailhead with personal storytelling, Eva shares her moving “spark bird” moment and reads a poem by Emily Dickinson. She highlights surprising bird behaviors, like tipsy robins feasting on fermented berries, and marvels at the elegance of the osprey, our local "fish hawk."

Along the way, Eva offers gems for curious birders and nature lovers alike, from the national rise in birdwatching to local hotspots like Lagerman Reservoir and the mesmerizing Osprey Cam.

Eva closes the episode with a look ahead to what autumn holds in Boulder County’s skies and fields. Whether you're a lifelong birder or just curious about the creatures in your backyard, this short and sweet episode invites you to pause, listen, and fall in love with birds all over again.

Featured Resources:

• USFWS Report on Birdwatching in America
• TEDx Talk: Why Bird Song Is More Than Beautiful
• eBird – Track and Report Bird Sightings
• Spark Bird Stories – Share Your Moment
• Boulder County Osprey Cam
• Lagerman Reservoir – Birding Hotspot
• Parks & Open Space Event Calendar

Birds in the Spotlight:

• Arctic Tern
• American Avocet
• American Robin
• Osprey
• Winter Warblers of South Florida