Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Action Alert – Update

On September 4, 2026September 9, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

Update 09.09.26

Thanks to strong support from members and friends, the zone change* for the parcel adjacent to our beloved WHR was denied last evening by the City of Cheyenne Planning Commission. We thank the Planning Commission members for their willingness to listen to our story and for considering the value of this treasure to our community. They listened to us and heard our voices. Thank you to them, and to everyone who participated to date by writing or speaking.

So step #1 was successful … but the work continues and we will continue to need your help and support.

Meeting Dates:

Cheyenne City Council – Introduction of Ordinance: September 14, 2026 6 p.m.

Public Services Committee: September 21, 2026 noon

**Cheyenne City Council – Second Reading of Ordinance: September 28, 2026 6 p.m.

Public Services Committee: October 5, 2026

**Cheyenne City Council – Final Consideration: October 12, 2026 6 p.m.

Our chapter is invested in our support of WHR and the environmental legacy that Dr. Hales gifted the entire Front Range for so many years.

Lorie Wayne Chesnut, Chapter President

* From City AG to City BP (Business Park)

** These are the most critical meetings to attend/speak/contact Council.

**********************************************

Dear Members and Friends,

You may remember that our Mission Statement is as follows: The Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society promotes the conservation and appreciation of birds and wildlife through education, science, advocacy, and habitat stewardship in Southeast Wyoming.

To that end, we wish to inform you about a request for zoning change which we believe will be detrimental to our beloved Wyoming Hereford Ranch (WHR), an Important Bird Area (IBA). We are against this change and asking for your help.

On Tuesday, September 8^th at 6:00 p.m., the City of Cheyenne Planning Commission will meet to consider changing a parcel of property adjacent to WHR from City AG to City BP (Business Park). The proposed use for the land is a data center. This property is approximately 74 acres and is located at the southeast corner of I-80 and Campstool Road. It is the only corner there not currently developed.

We are concerned about heavy machinery, traffic, and later, issues such as air and water quality, noise, and general disruption to the area. This location is approximately 0.2 miles from the IBA boundaries and residents.

Here is a link to the Staff Report for that request. You will see a map on the report that clearly delineates the land in question.

We ask that you contact your City Council members, and/or Planning Commission members. If you are able to attend the meeting on Tuesday, September 8^th, we would welcome your participation. The CHPAS Board will be sending a formal letter stating our opposition to the zoning change to the Mayor, City Council and Planning Commission members.

If you write and/or speak, please focus on your birding experiences at WHR, how these experiences enrich your life and the lives of others, and support our goal of habitat stewardship of the IBA. We want to keep the focus on birds and their environment – setting ourselves apart from those who are merely frustrated by the data center influx in general.

If you have questions, please contact us at cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com.

Photo from Campstool Road looking east. Taken 09.04.26.

September CHPAS Calendar

On September 1, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

The Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society sends our sympathy to the family of Joseph Sloan Hales, MD. Dr. Hales passed away on August 15, 2026. Many of you bird at the Wyoming Hereford Ranch, an Important Bird Area designated by the National Audubon Society. Dr. and Mrs. Hales, and their family, have been wonderful partners in environmental stewardship of this gorgeous ranch. It is a place of beauty and peace, enjoyed by so many. We hope that our partnership lasts for many years to come.

More information about all of our offerings in September is available by downloading our September newsletter.

Calendar

September 12, 10:00 a.m. – Dry Creek Greenway Cleanup

Cheyenne Audubon is hosting a Greenway cleanup event on Saturday, September 12th and we need your help!

The starting location is the parking lot adjacent to the intersection of Van Buren Avenue and Laramie Street (just north of East Lincolnway and east of its intersection with Pershing Blvd.). Work will proceed to the north along Dry Creek and should take a little over an hour.

Trash bags and light-weight gloves will be provided. Participants should wear sturdy footwear (preferably waterproof) and heavy gloves and bring rakes and hoes, if available, for fishing trash out of the creek.

September 15, 6:00 p.m. – Dr. Craig W. Benkman presenting Crossbills and Conifers: A 40-Year Obsession Leads to a New Bird Species.

Join us on Tuesday, September 15^th for the first in a series of monthly programs at the Laramie County Public Library (2200 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne) in the Sunflower Room on the 3^rd floor. 6:00 p.m. These talks are free and open to the public.

Our series begins with University of Wyoming professor emeritus Craig Benkman, the author of Crossbills and Conifers: One Million Years of Adaptation and Coevolution. Dr. Benkman will talk about how crossbills use their crossed upper and lower beaks to extract seeds and why there’s so much variety in size. One variation became the new species: Cassia crossbill.

September 19, 10:00 a.m. – Field Trip to Wyoming Hereford Ranch

Join us for our September field trip to Wyoming Hereford Ranch. We will meet at the WHR Office Headquarters at 1114 Hereford Ranch Rd. Fall migration is currently underway. Birds that we are likely to see Red-headed Woodpecker, Blue Grosbeak, Song Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, and Northern House Wren.

Contact Grant Frost (307-343-2024) if you are interested in joining us, so that we can inform you if something changes. Questions? Email us at cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com.

September 22, 6:00 p.m. – Monthly Board Meeting Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities, or if you are interested in volunteering in some of our activities. This meeting will be held at the Laramie County Library in the Sunflower Room.

September 25, 8:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s club house’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.

The CHPAS 26-27 Membership Campaign is Underway!

On August 22, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

Greetings to all CHPAS Members and Friends!

August is the time that we hold our annual membership campaign. We hope that you will consider supporting our local chapter – we are the best deal in town at only $ 12.00 for an annual membership!

If you are already a member of our local chapter, a membership packet was mailed to you this week. If you are a current member of the National Audubon Society, one is on the way! If you are a Friend who wishes to join, we would love to have you!

Through your support, our all-volunteer board holds monthly programs and field trips, participates in citizen science through national bird counts, and provides resources and education to residents throughout Goshen, Laramie, and Platte Counties. Most of our activities are free but your membership helps us to do more, including educational activities and special projects. (A membership in National Audubon does not mean automatic membership in your local chapter).

To learn more about our impact and activities in our tri-county area, just click on “2026_2027 Membership Letter” and to download a membership card, click on “Website Membership Form“.

Then send your check* to: Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society, P.O. Box 2502, Cheyenne, WY 82003

If you would like to have a copy of our membership packet mailed to you, just let us know your name and address by emailing us at CheyenneAudubon@gmail.com.

Thank you for your involvement in and support of Audubon!

* Note: We do not have electronic payment for membership at this time.

August CHPAS Calendar

On August 1, 2026August 23, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

Cheyenne Botanic Garden Habitat Hero Garden 2026

Our various native plant gardens are doing very well and they are certainly appreciative of the rain that we have had over the past few weeks. If you happen to be by the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, be sure to check out the Habitat Hero Garden very near the parking area. It is in full bloom now and looking great. Special thanks to Barb and Mark Gorges, and the Habitat Hero volunteers that help keep that garden maintained and beautiful for us all.

The Pollinator Meadow garden area is also benefiting from the rain. The plants are doing well and we are grateful to our friends at Urban Forestry and the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens for helping keep them moist this summer.

The August issue of “Flyer” has more details about all of our August events, as well as stories about birders and birding in the Front Range!

August 15, 7:30 a.m. – Field Trip to Curt Gowdy State Park

Join us for our August field trip to Curt Gowdy State Park. We will meet in the Lions Park parking lot between the Children’s Village and the picnic shelter at 7:30 a.m. and travel west about 25 miles to Curt Gowdy State Park. We will reconvene at the Visitor’s Center at about 8:00 AM and decide where in the park we will hike. Birds that we are likely to see include Bald or Golden Eagles, Green-tailed Towhee, Townsend’s Solitaire, and various species of Hummingbirds.

Contact Grant Frost (307-343-2024) if you are interested in joining us, so that we can inform you if something changes. Questions? Email us at cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com.

August 25, 6:00 p.m. – Monthly Board Meeting

Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities, or if you are interested in volunteering in some of our activities. This meeting will be held at the Laramie County Library in the Sunflower Room.

August 28, 7:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey

Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.

CHPAS Requests Help Rebuilding Mailing List

On July 29, 2026July 29, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

Our CHPAS automated emailing service (MailChimp) was compromised earlier this month. The Chapter was forced to delete the account. All documents including emailing lists were lost. This site and our gmail is fine.

If you would like to continue receiving the monthly newsletter, please email CHPAS at cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com.

While we work to restore this service, watch our webpage and Facebook accounts (like a hawk) for information on Chapter activities. Thank you for your help!

July CHPAS Calendar

On July 2, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

First, we would like to thank all of the volunteers who made the Lions Park Pollinator Garden a reality in early June. Our little plants are doing their thing … as native plants do (first they sleep, then they creep, then they leap!). In the August edition of “Flyer” we will have an update on our little garden.

See the July issue of “Flyer” for more information about all of our activities! June was another busy month for our chapter and July will be too. Please note that the Laramie Audubon Society has invited us to join them for a trip to the Snowies in search of Brown-capped Rosy Finches on Saturday, July 11th. You will only see them in this area. The hike is fairly strenuous but the payoff will be worth it! (Page 4, “Flyer”).

July 18, 7:00 a.m. – Field Trip to Woodhouse Wildlife Habitat Management Area

Join us for a July field trip to the John/Annie Woodhouse WHMA in western Laramie County. We will meet at Wyoming Game & Fish (5400 Bishop Blvd) at 7:00 a.m. and travel west about 25 miles. If you haven’t hiked the Woodhouse WHMA, you are in for a treat. This is an easy hiking path alongside a winding creek with lovely views of natural prairie. Wildflowers should be abundant in July. We may be fortunate to see a Yellow-breasted Chat (photo at left by Mark Gorges), a Prairie Falcon, and a Lazuli Bunting. More information about what to bring is in the July issue of “Flyer”.

Please contact Grant Frost (307-343-2024) if you are interested in joining us, so that we can inform you if something changes. Questions? Email us at cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com.

July 28, 6:00 p.m. – Monthly Board Meeting Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities, or if you are interested in volunteering in some of our activities. This meeting will be held at the Laramie County Library in the Sage Room.

July 31, 7:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.

June CHPAS Calendar

On June 1, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

More information about all of these events is included in the June issue of “Flyer“, our newsletter. Our events are generally free and open to everyone – birding experience doesn’t matter. Questions about birds or birding? Contact us at cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com.

June 6, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Lions Park Pollinator Patch Planting

We will be planting on Saturday, June 6^th at 11:00 a.m. Please join us if you can help.

The location is the new “Place for Pollinators” interpretive sign on the southeast side of the lake (near the new Pickle-ball Courts). We will be creating a small “meadow” where none currently exists. Bring garden gloves and a small hand shovel if you have them.

We hope to expand this area in future years, bringing more color and plant diversity to the park. The next time you are in Lions Park, check out the new sign and the future Pollinator Patch semi-circle around it.

Please let us know if you would like to help us with our Pollinator Patch by contacting CHPAS by email at cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com. The birds, bees, and bugs thank you!

June 20, 8:00 a.m. – Field Trip to Pine Bluffs

The Motus installation team with Pine Bluffs Recreation Director Sonja Fornstrom.

We will arrive at the Pine Bluffs Rest Area about 8:50 a.m. There, we will meet up with members and friends from eastern Laramie County and hike into the Bluffs area at about 9:00 a.m. We will also view the new Motus Tracking System and Grant will explain more about how the system works.

We will leave Children’s Village (Botanic Gardens, 710 S. Lions Park Drive, Cheyenne) at 8:00 a.m. Carpooling should be available. The hiking level will be easy on the Boardwalk but moderate after we begin to ascend into the Bluffs area due to a change in elevation.

Let Grant Frost know (1-307-343-2024) that you are coming so that if plans change, we can let you know.

June 23, 6:00 p.m. – Monthly Board Meeting

June 26, 7:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey

May CHPAS Calendar

On May 1, 2026May 4, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

Another busy birding month! May is full of activities for birders. We hope that you will join us for many of them! More information can be found within the May issue of our newsletter, Flyer.

May 2, 10:30-a.m. – 12:00 Noon: Birding 101 Class
This Saturday class will be at the Laramie County Library, Cheyenne, in the Sunflower Room. “Birding 101” is a free class taught by wildlife biologists Grant Frost and Dennis Saville.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your birding skills, this event will cover the basics of bird identification, birdwatching tips, and local species information. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with nature and explore the fascinating world of birds.

May 3, 9:00 a.m. – Noon: Field Trip, AARP Wyoming In-Person Bird Watching, Lions Park, Cheyenne
We will meet in the Lions Park parking lot between the Children’s Village and the picnic shelter at 9 a.m. Preregistration with AARP was required. Note: Registration is now closed.
The walk is led by Zach Hutchinson, Community Science Coordinator with Audubon Rockies, who will share insights on bird behavior, habitats, and what species you’re most likely to see in Wyoming this time of year. CHPAS Board Members will also attend to help you spot those elusive warblers!

May 9: Global Big Day and World Migratory Bird Day
Be a part of birding’s biggest team! Global Big Day is an annual celebration of the birds around you. For more information, go to: https://ebird.org/news/global-big-day-2026
No matter where you are, go outside on May 9, help celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, and share the birds you find with eBird.org. For more information, go to https://www.migratorybirdday.org/

May 9, 10:00 a.m. – Big Day Bird Count for Platte and Goshen Counties
The second annual Big Day Bird Count for Platte and Goshen Counties is coming up soon. A Big Day is an effort to see as many species as possible in one 24-hour period. This is organized by the Cheyenne – High Plains Audubon Society. Last year, 82 species were seen in Platte County, and 114 species were seen in Goshen County. The Northern Cardinal is an elusive bird along the Platte River but you never know if we might see one!

A guided group will meet at the Guernsey Fish Ponds at 10:00 where the path meets the South Guernsey Road and will use the paved path between there and the North Platte River to bird. This will be for anybody, but is directed toward those brand-new to birding, families, and those that may have mobility issues.

If you want to join us in person, make sure to contact Grant Frost at 307-343-2024 or via email at frostgrant2@gmail.com with questions, to let him know where you will be birding, or to send him lists of birds seen.

May 16, 8:00 a.m. – Annual Cheyenne Big Day Bird Count
Starting at Lions Park, we will cover birding hot spots throughout the Cheyenne area. If you want to join us later than 8:00 a.m., please call Mark, 307-287-4953, to get a location update throughout the morning. We also encourage people to report all bird sightings during the 24-hour period beginning at midnight on the free app at eBird.org. The middle of May is the high point of the spring migration of birds to their nesting areas from their winter homes.

Bring a lunch or pick one up on the way; bring water and dress for variable weather. Everyone, no matter what your birding skills, is invited. Bring binoculars if you have them. The more eyes we have, the more birds we will see. We may finish the planned routes by 3 p.m. You may join us at any time throughout the day for as long as you wish and leave when you need to.

May 16, 8:00 p.m. A Tally-Get-Together after the count, pie at Perkins!
We’ll talk over our Big Day experiences over pie and/or ice cream at Perkins Restaurant, 1730 Dell Range. Let Barb Gorges know if you plan to attend so that we can reserve enough tables. Call or text her at 307-287-4952

May 17, 10:00 a.m. – Greenway Cleanup
Cheyenne Audubon is hosting a Greenway cleanup event, Sunday, May 17th. The public is invited to help.
The starting location is the parking lot adjacent to the intersection of Van Buren Avenue and Laramie Street (just north of East Lincolnway and east of its intersection with Pershing Blvd.). Work will proceed to the north along Dry Creek and should take a little over an hour.
Trash bags and light-weight gloves will be provided. Participants should wear sturdy footwear (preferably waterproof) and heavy gloves and bring rakes and hoes, if available, for fishing trash out of the creek.

May 22 – Pollinator’s Pantry
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Burns Branch – Laramie County Public Library
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Pine Bluffs Branch – Laramie County Public Library
Join the Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society (CHPAS) for a discussion about native bees and other pollinators, and the role that they play on our prairie landscape.
Retired environmental attorney and CHPAS Conservation Chair Kurt Warmbier will join Wanda Manley, Range Management Specialist and Past President of CHPAS, to share information about the importance of pollinators, how to protect them, and how to maintain the prairie environment that they need.

May 26, 6:00 p.m. – Monthly Board Meeting
Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities, or if you are interested in volunteering in some of our activities. This meeting will be held at the Laramie County Library in the Sage Room.

May 29, 7:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey
Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.

April CHPAS Calendar

On March 31, 2026May 1, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

Happy Migration Period to all Birders! Lots going on this month as always. For more details about all of our activities, please view our April issue of “Flyer“.

April 18, 6:30 a.m. – Field Trip: Sage Grouse Lek Viewing
Game and Fish headquarters, 5400 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne.
(Use the parking lot on the east side of the building).

Greater Sage Grouse. Photo by Pete Arnold

We will leave the Game & Fish Headquarters at 6:30 a.m. and drive about 40 miles to the lek in Roger Canyon. Carpooling should be available but check with Grant (see below) if you will need a ride.
Our field trips are free and open to the public. Anyone interested in birds is welcome.
We expect to be back in Cheyenne by 1:00 p.m. Be sure to bring water, some snacks for yourself and dress for changing weather.
If you are interested in going, contact Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, so that he has a list of those expected, and he can let you know if the plans change for any reason like bad weather.

April 21, 4:30 p.m. – No-host dinner with speaker Vicki Herren
L’Osteria Mondello, 1507 Stillwater Ave, Cheyenne.
Please let Barb Gorges know if you are planning to join us for dinner so that we can reserve enough room at the restaurant. Text or email Barb at 307-287-4952 or bgorges4@msn.com.

April 21, 6:00 p.m. – Cheyenne Audubon program – Armchair birding in southern Peru with Vicki Herren
Trout Room at the Game and Fish headquarters, 5400 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne.
Use the parking lot and door on the east side of the building and come in the door there.

Cheyenne Audubon invites the public for a free talk by Vicki Herren, “Armchair birding in Southern Peru.” The talk will be April 21, 6 p.m., in the Trout Room at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5400 Bishop Boulevard. For more information, check out the April issue of “Flyer“.

April 24, 7:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey
Contact Vicki Herren to be on the email notice list: 307-256-2043 or Vickiblue@hotmail.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These outings are free and open to everyone, but please let Vicki know you are coming.

April 28, 6:00 p.m. – Monthly Board Meeting
Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities, or if you are interested in volunteering in some of our activities. This meeting will be held at the Laramie County Library in the Sage Room.

March CHPAS Calendar

On March 2, 2026 By cheyenneaudubonLeave a comment

March 17, 6:00 p.m. – Cheyenne Audubon program – Elizabeth Wommack, PhD on Vulture Watch Wyoming

Location: Trout Room at the Wyoming Game and Fish headquarters, 5400 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne. (Use the parking lot and door on the east side of the building).

Turkey Vulture: Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Wommack

Cheyenne Audubon invites the public for a free talk by Elizabeth Wommack on Turkey Vultures in Wyoming and the community science project, “Vulture Watch Wyoming,” to learn more about them. The talk will also provide training for identifying and aging Turkey Vultures, and discuss why they are important to the ecosystem in Wyoming, and the history of our understanding of these vultures in the state. Everyone attending will be able to help Vulture Watch Wyoming to collect observations and counts.

Read more about this month’s presentation in the March issue of Flyer.

March 17, 4:30 p.m. We will have a no-host dinner with the speaker at Hacienda Guadalajara, 317 E Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001 at 4:30 p.m.

Please let Barb Gorges know if you are planning to join us for dinner so that we can reserve enough room at the restaurant. Text or email Barb at 307-287-4952 or bgorges4@msn.com.

March 24, 6:00 p.m. – Monthly Board Meeting

March 27, 8:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey

Contact Vicki Herren to be on the email notice list: 307-256-2043 or Vickiblue@hotmail.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These outings are free and open to everyone, but please let Vicki know you are coming.

March 28, 1:00 p.m. – “The Lives of Sandhill Cranes” at the Goshen County Public Library (2001 E. A St, Torrington) – a special presentation by Senior Wildlife Biologist Grant Frost for our members and friends in Goshen and Platte Counties! Maps to Table Mountain will be available following the presentation for those who wish to join our field trip later that day.

March 28, 3:00 p.m. – Field Trip: Table Mountain Wildlife Management Area: Sandhill Crane Migration

Sandhill Cranes. Photo by Kurt Warmbier.

We will leave the Lions Park parking lot south of the Children’s Village at 3 p.m. Carpooling should be available but check with Grant (see below) if you will need a ride. Our field trips are free and open to the public. Anyone interested in birds is welcome.

We will rendezvous at about 4:15 p.m. at the check station on Co. Rd. 42, about 3/4 mile west of US 85 and the Pheasant Farm. We are going to Table Mountain to watch Sandhill Cranes return in flocks to their nighttime roosting area after they spend the day feeding in grain fields. We will also be looking for migrating waterfowl along the way.

More information about this popular field trip are included in the March issue of Flyer! Be sure to let Grant Frost know if you are interested in joining us so that he can contact you if plans change due to inclement weather, etc.

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Remember our AARP Virtual Birdwatching Series that begins on March 27th and runs through the month of April. You don’t have to be a member of AARP to participate. Look for more information in the March Flyer.