Mural at Willoughby Corner Celebrates Lafayette's Birds

Guide to the Birds

The painting highlights some of the 250 species of birds you might see at Waneka Lake and Greenlee Preserve. Can you name them?

From left:
1 Great Blue Heron
2 Killdeer
3 Belted Kingfisher
4 Red-Winged Blackbird
5 House Wren
6 Yellow Warblers
7 Chickadee
8 Western Tanager
9 Hummingbirds
10 Yellow-Headed Blackbird
11 Barn Swallow
12 Great Horned Owl
13 Swainson’s Hawk
14 White Pelicans
15 Canada Geese

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Greenlee trees-web

"To visit the birds at Waneka Lake is meditative.
It's like medicine for the mind."

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed many walks around Waneka Lake. Having once lived nearby, I've observed the bird flocks that swoop in from far away to enjoy the mature trees, the water and willows. Connected to Waneka Lake is Greenlee Preserve - where you can stand on a viewing platform at the edge and watch migratory birds and nesting waterfowl, including Great Horned Owls, Belted Kingfishers, Pied-billed Grebes, Yellow Warblers, and more. To sit and listen to the birds there is meditative. It’s medicine for the mind. I wanted to learn more.

In 2019, Lafayette was designated a “Bird City” due to its commitment to conserve bird species and the habitats they need to survive. The city continues to nurture this through several programs:

[Click for more info]
• Lafayette Birds! - a monthly birding tour
• Annual Migratory Bird festival in September
• Efforts to create additional habitats for birds through invasive species removal and native species plantings
• Public education about gardening, using native plant species that help support birds and pollinators.

I caught up with Martin Ogle, Education Coordinator with Lafayette Open space, who leads the “Lafayette Birds!” program. According to Martin, this place is extra special, in part because it’s a migratory stopover for birds from Central and South America. The fact that there are so many species in Lafayette is indicative of the health of the ecosystem.

The title “Bird City” has a dual meaning, because to me, Waneka Lake itself is a city of birds. Many travel through and others nest there, but it is a special gathering place for our winged friends. I'm especially grateful to share this work of art with the community at Willoughby Corner. With love and gratitude - Leslie

Special Thanks

“Bird City” was funded by RS&H (formerly HB&A) and presented to Willoughby Corner as a gift to the community. I had the pleasure of working with this wonderful and capable team. Many thanks to them. Sending my gratitude to Boulder County Housing Authority for creating this community and for your wonderful guidance on the painting, including the size. Thank you to the extremely helpful and professional team at Pinkard Construction and to the facilities team at Willoughby Corner for your help with logistics.

I also wish to thank those with far more bird knowledge than I have for providing their consulting expertise: Martin Ogle, Education Coordinator with Lafayette Open Space, who leads the “Lafayette Birds!” program and Megan Jones Patterson, a volunteer with the Audubon Society, who provided a wonderful first birding tour experience for me.

Visit the artist’s website at www.lesliejorgensen.com