La Plata County
Author(s): James Beatty, James D. Beatty
County Seat: Durango
Size: 1,692 square miles
Low Elevation: 5,924 ft. - Animas River on the NM border
High Elevation: 14,083 ft. - Mount Eolus
Best Birds: White-eared Hummingbird (2005), Green Violet-ear (1998), Purple Gallinule (1978)
Checklist: La Plata County Checklist
Introduction: Home to Durango, the largest town in southwest Colorado, La Plata County is arguably the best-birded county in this part of the state. Its diversity of habitats, ranging from lowland desert up to 14,000 feet, make it a great ecotourism destination. The bodies of water are not large, but some, especially Pastorius Reservoir, can be surprisingly productive. La Plata County is home to the only publicly accessible colony of Acorn Woodpeckers in the state, and has attracted more than one Mexican stray. With coverage, it's certain to produce many more!
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Birding Sites
Durango Mountain Resort Ski Area and Sig Creek
Habitat: Spruce-Fir Forest
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Junction Creek Campground
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Aspen Grove, Spruce-Fir Forest, Cliff Face
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La Plata Canyon
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest, Mountain Meadow, Krummholz, Alpine Tundra
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La Plata County Road 136
Habitat: Pinyon/Juniper Forest, Scrub Oak Forest, Grassland/Prairie
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Lemon Reservoir
Habitat: Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Ponderosa Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest, Alpine Tundra
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Madden Peak Road
Habitat: Mountain Meadow, Scrub Oak Forest, Aspen Grove
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Middle Mountain Road
Habitat: Ponderosa Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest, Burn Area
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Pastorius State Wildlife Area
Habitat: Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Pinyon/Juniper Forest, Lowland Riparian
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Vallecito Reservoir
Habitat: Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Ponderosa Forest, Spruce-Fir Forest
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