Winter in Northwest Colorado

Hello Friends,

I’m sorry to say that this winter in the Yampa Valley is officially a bust. We are experiencing the lowest snowpack in 50 years and the ground is covered in mud and slush instead of deep powder. This is unfortunate for us and the vegetation and wildlife we share the land with.

Speaking of climate, I have a photograph that is being featured in an upcoming event in Steamboat Springs. The Western Resilience Center (WRC) is hosting an event: INSIGHT: ART FOR CLIMATE ACTION at the Wildhorse Cinema + Arts center from March 3-29. On Thursday, March 5 at 5:30, the artists (including me) will be on hand for the opening celebration. The piece I submitted is a beautiful boreal owl (pictured below) printed on wrapped canvas in 12 x 18. It will be sold for $400 with proceeds going to benefit the WRC’s mission to build a sustainable and resilient Yampa Valley Region.

This boreal owl visited us twice this winter. Our house is at 6,800 feet and is in oak scrub and cottonwood riparian areas with interspersed sagebrush scrub. This habitat and elevation is not typically occupied by boreal owls so we were very surprised to see it.

Here is the description that will accompany the piece: Boreal Owl (Aegolius Funereus)

Habitat loss and climate change are the two biggest threats to boreal birds, especially in the southern regions. Boreal forests are expected to be among the hardest hit by climate change. Forests in Colorado dominated by Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir are considered “boreal like”, mirroring those of their northern counterparts. The boreal owl prefers elevations around 9,500-10,000 feet for nesting, breeding, and brood rearing. Warmer temperatures and loss of habitat will likely extirpate the boreal owl from the southern tip of its range, which includes Colorado and Utah.

Steller’s Jays and Woodhouse’ Scrub-Jays are regular visitors at our house in winter. A mixed flock of these jays alerted me to the presence of the boreal owl when I heard them loudly scolding her for entering their territory.

Grouse Season 2026

We are fully booked for the upcoming grouse season. It’s incredible to think that this business that I started halfway through the lekking season of 2025 has gone from a 2:00 am hair-brained scheme to a successful business in one year. I’m so thankful to all of you for making this a reality. I have a wait-list going for this spring if you want to try for this season or, lets plan ahead for 2027 and get you on the books now!