This is a private ranch located out on the plains and straddling the El Paso/Pueblo County line. Day passes are $15 per person, and for groups over 6, $10 per person. Yearly passes are available. Birding is open year round. For those interested in going birding on the Chico Basin Ranch, follow directions to the ranch HDQ where a kiosk can be found. Detailed instructions are available at the kiosk. Visitors will be asked to fill out a liability waiver and a registration form. Bird lists, birding trail, map and ranch policies and rules are available at the HDQ check in station.

The bulk of the ranch is in Pueblo County but there is an excellent migrant trap on the El Paso side where Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory bands birds each spring. There are also 5 warm water, spring-fed lakes, which can provide some interesting waterbirds on occasion. The area on the El Paso side that is birded consists of a huge grove of Russian Olives with a few Peachleaf Willows and a number of large Plains Cottonwoods. One of the Cottonwoods has hosted a Golden Eagle nest over the years. The banding station area is near the Holmes residence and is probably the most birded spot on the El Paso side.

The Casita is just southwest of the Holmes and also provides excellent birding. Most of the warbler species that have occurred in Colorado have been recorded here and in some years there are amazing numbers of thrushes that pass through (e.g., 1200 Swainson's Thrushes on 20 May 2000). Long-eared Owls can be found in migration and even Flammulated has occurred -- twice! -- during spring migration. Common Poorwills are usually found in migration and even a Whip-poor-will has been recorded in this area.

From the Holmes house, the olive stand bends to the southeast to a nice set of Plains Cottonwoods that have hosted many warblers over the years. This area also usually has some water where one can find Wilson's Snipe. Apart from the riparian area, there is good semi-desert shrubland that supports such species as Scaled Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Greater Roadrunner, Curve-billed Thrasher, Cassin's Sparrow, and Brewer's Sparrow.

For the most part, the Ranch is fairly slow outside of migration periods but can still be a fun place to bird. For instance, in the winter there are usually a handful of Chestnut-collard Longspurs mixed in with the Lapland Longspurs. The other interesting winter bird is Loggerhead Shrike which is found annually in the winter yet there are only two Ranch records for Northern Shrike and both of those were migrant birds. So you can count on seeing something fun on every trip to the Ranch. With over 275 species recorded as of May 2005 you have a good chance of seeing something that interests you.

Habitat: Grassland/Prairie, Cholla, Lowland Riparian, Pond

Directions: From I-25 take Exit 122 East. This is the same exit for Pikes Peak International Raceway. Head east on Old Pueblo Road approximately 1.5 miles to Hanover Road. Travel approximately 12.3 miles to Peyton Highway. Turn right and head south to the main gate of the ranch. Upon arriving, proceed directly to ranch headquarters (about two miles in on the main road) in order to check in and pay the entrance fee.

Acknowledgments: Hotspot information was originally compiled on Birding Colorado, a service of Colorado Field Ornithologists. CFO thanks all the original contributors.