On my frequent trips to our Colorado farm, I always plan a walk along the South Platte River. Coursing through a greenbelt of meadows, wetlands, ponds and cottonwood groves, the river attracts a wide variety of wildlife throughout the year. This is especially true during the winter months when ponds and lakes freeze over.
Joining the year-round waterfowl are wintering species such as green-winged teal, common mergansers, buffleheads, ring-necked ducks and common goldeneyes. Some great blue herons stay for the winter and even an occasional black-crowned night heron declines to head south. Belted kingfishers noisily patrol the river while hawks, kestrels and great horned owls hunt for mice and cottontails on the streamside meadows. Bald eagles are common winter visitors along the South Platte, feeding on fish and waterfowl. Resident mammals include muskrat, beaver, red fox, deer and coyotes.
