Chatfield is a zoo! (Jefferson/Douglas)

[W. Robert Shade III]

Today, Saturday the 11th, I thought I would check out the shorebirds reported at Chatfield SP. I knew it was not the best day or the best time (11:30 AM) but was not prepared for two lines of cars from the highway to the gate house even with two people working outside to sell admissions. Nor was I prepared for chock full parking lots from the swim beach all the way around to the Plum Creek area. Nor for thousands of half naked people swarming the whole reservoir (even paddle boards below the Herony Overlook; I thought that was out of bounds for boating) and every water edge including the Marina sandspit and near the Plum Creek Delta. We gave up and left to find the Black Phoebe at Wingate Park (did!) and found that all entrants were being turned away by 12:30. I hope this is a temporary anomaly caused by hot weather and COVID cabin fever or the birds will have no place to hide. The only good thing that can be said is that the State Parks system must have taken in tens of thousands of dollars in admission fees today. 

Bob Shade

Lakewood