December Field Trips

Questions and suggestions are welcome! Email the field trip committee chair at fcasfieldtrips@gmail.com

Dec. 8, Sunday,
Bobcat Ridge Survey
Learn More

Dec. 12, Thursday,
Annual Member Potluck and Slideshow
Learn More

December 14 - January 1,
125th Christmas Bird Count
Learn More

Important Notice

Chapter name change Resolution Update

The Chapter name change is being voted on by members! Please go to this link to learn how to cast your vote:

Name Change Update

The New, The Noteworthy & Upcoming Events

  • Event December 2024

    December Event:
    “Annual Member Potluck and Slideshow”

    Thursday, December 12th, 2024

    It's time for the FCAS Annual Member potluck and slideshow. You bring your favorite photos to share, you receive the applause! Join us December 12th, 2024 Learn more here.

  • 2024 CBC

    2024 Christmas Bird Count

    December 14—January 1

    Anyone can participate in this fun event, from your own backyard or anywhere! Learn more here.

  • Event March 2024

    YouTube recording Ft Collins Audubon Meeting 10/10/2024 David Suddjian, Denver Field Ornithologists: “Get Ready for Late Fall Birding”

    David Suddjian - October 10th, 2024

    David Suddjian will help us tune up and get ready to identify and enjoy the special birds of late autumn. Recorded October 10th, 2024 Event page.

    Watch Now | Previous Recordings

  • logo'd apparel

    FCAS Apparel

    Don't venture out on another fieldtrip without one of our shirts, caps or other items with our beautiful ptarmigans logo on them. Find out more here.

  • photo gallery

    Photo Gallery

    The photo gallery needs your bird pictures! Please submit your favorite photos for inclusion. Find out more here.

  • Education Grant

    Teachers, and students! The Fort Collins Audubon Society has an exciting opportunity for you to learn more about conservation. Apply for a $500.00 Alex Cringan Memorial Grant and use the funds to develop a project, take a workshop, enroll in an online class, or research a topic of interest to you! Now is a great time to learn more about birds and connect with nature! Click here for an application.

    The Alex Cringan Memorial Grant, sponsored by FCAS, provides funds to raise environmental awareness for future generations. Dr. Alex Cringan was a Colorado State University Professor of Wildlife Biology, a founding member and past president of the Fort Collins Audubon Society, a frequent field trip leader, and a friend and role model for many FCAS members. To honor his life and promote environmental education, FCAS created the Alex Cringan Grant to support educators and students to enhance their skills and share their knowledge with others.

    Members: you can donate directly to this grant by adding a donation when you renew your membership.

  • FCAS Welcomes New and Renewing Members

    • Craig Benkma
    • Lisa Browne
    • Marisa Bunning
    • Ted & Anne Butler
    • William Cushman
    • Joyce Dempsey
    • Irene Fortune
    • Ruth Grant
    • Larry Griffin
    • Janet Holley
    • Sue Laiguman
    • Andi Lawlor
    • Anna Makpvec-Fuller
    • Cheryl Orwig
    • Timothy Priehs
    • Mary Beck & Gary Spivak
    • Linda Squires

    Thank you for your membership! Your support makes our programs and conservation efforts possible and helps us achieve our mission of connecting people to the natural world.


    FCAS welcomes new National Audubon Society members by sending one complimentary copy of our newsletter. Join us at our monthly programs on the second Thursday of the month. National dues do not cover the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter, so if you'd like to keep receiving the Ptarmigan, please support your local chapter and subscribe.

  • Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation

    Trying to help a sick or injured bird? These resources are ready to help!

President's Corner

Proposed 2025 Annual Budget

by John Shenot

In keeping with our bylaws, the FCAS Board agreed in November on a proposed annual budget for our 2025 operations. Members can vote on whether to approve the budget at our annual meeting in January.

The following charts summarize our proposed expenses and revenues for 2025 by category. A complete budget proposal with details on expenses and revenues is available to any member upon request. The proposed budget represents a 1.6 percent increase in budgeted expenditures compared to 2024. Because the change is so small and our finances are in very good order, we are not proposing any increase to membership dues.

Our Hospitality Committee Chair arranges for refreshments to be provided at monthly programs. We have limped through 2024 with a vacancy in this position, but may have to stop offering refreshments if we can't find a new chair. Directors-at-Large serve on the Board of Directors and contribute to all decisions made by the Board, but have no specified duties.

2025 Budget Expenditures 2025 Budget Reveues

Report of the Nominating Committee on 2025 FCAS Board Candidates

In October, the FCAS Board of Directors appointed a Nominating Committee, consisting of John Shenot (chair), Barb Patterson, Amy Roush, and Lori Pivonka, to identify candidates to serve as officers and directors on the 2025 Board. The President serves a two-year term, while all other Board mem-bers serve one-year terms. In keeping with our by-laws, the Nominating Committee hereby announces a slate of recommended candidates to be officially nominated at our January membership meeting: President, John Shenot; Vice-President, Liz Pruessner; Treasurer, Joe Polazzi; Secretary, Kim Vercimak; Directors at Large (six positions to fill): Alan Godwin, Kit Gray, Lori Pivonka, Jessie Meschievitz, and Karen Wheeler. In addition, one or two excellent candidates for the remaining Director at Large position were identified, but a final decision was not made in time for inclusion in this article. That decision will be announced at our December chapter meeting

Additional nominations for all elected positions will be accepted from the floor at the January meet-ing. Members present will vote, and those elected will be installed at the conclusion of the meeting.

The Nominating Committee also identified recommended candidates to chair most of our standing committees in 2025. Committee chairs are not elected; rather, they are appointed by the President with the consent of the Board. The recommended candidates are: Conservation, Jess Gray; Membership, Harry Rose; Education, Sheila Webber; Finance, Cliff Hendrick; Programs, candidate identified but not yet confirmed (may still need a volunteer); Field Trips, Amy Roush; Publications, Joe Webber; Public Relations, Cassie Cranmore; Hospitality, still seeking a volunteer.

If you would like to chair our hospitality commit-tee in 2025, please contact a board member ASAP.End of Story logo

Find FCAS on Facebook for Field Trip Information

FCAS has a Facebook page where we post announcements about upcoming field trips, last minute changes to scheduled trips, and highlights of most of our outings. Just click on the �Like" button in the plugin to Like our page! Our announcements should then appear on your wall. You can also click on "Fort Collins Audubon Society" to be taken directly to the Facebook page. Note: All field trips are also announced in the Ptarmigan and on our website.


Find FCAS on YouTube for Previous Zoom Presentations

YouTube logo

Did you miss the monthly live chapter Zoom presentation? The chapter has recently created a YouTube channel to provide an easily accessible archive of our monthly chapter Zoom meetings. Be sure to Like and Subscribe!


Birding Checklists

The Chapter has prepared a number of birding checklist to aid you when birding.

Find them here: FCAS Birding Checklists

FCAS Mission Statement

  • To promote the appreciation, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife, through education, participation, stewardship, and advocacy.

Fort Collins Audubon Society

Serving Larimer County, Colorado, and Surrounding Areas.

The Fort Collins Audubon Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to nature appreciation, environmental education, and conservation activities.