Friends of Highline Lake State Park

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

FREE FISHING WEEKEND COMING UP 🎣

On June 6-7, 2026, anyone can fish for free, and the fishing license and Habitat Stamp requirements are waived: https://cpw.info/4u6rbdn

05/30/2026

05/21/2026

There's a difference between watching wildlife and disturbing it. Responsible viewing means observing behavior without changing it. If you can get close enough for a great photo, you might already be too close. When in doubt, use the "rule of thumb." It’s easy: make a thumbs up, extend your arm all the way, close one eye, and see if you can hide the animal with your thumb. If you can’t hide the entire animal with your thumb, take a few steps back and try again. When you can hide the whole animal, you are at a safe distance from wildlife.

05/19/2026

It’s nesting season, which means it’s not uncommon to find baby birds on the ground that may appear to need help. But should you intervene? Here’s a simple guide to help you determine your next steps depending on the bird’s condition, age, and species!

Learn more: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/when-you-should-and-should-not-rescue-baby-birds

05/17/2026

THE RIVER INSECT HATCH IS NOT JUST BUGS.
IT MAY BE FEEDING HUNDREDS OF BIRD SPECIES.
(Copied from FB)
Most people see insects rising from a river and think:

annoying bugs.
a swarm.
something to avoid.

But a 2026 U.S. study showed something much bigger.

Scientists looked across 14,177 rivers in the contiguous United States and found that clean-water insects — especially mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies — were linked to the presence of 288 bird species.

That means a river hatch is not just a cloud of insects.

It can be dinner.
Migration fuel.
Nesting support.
A bridge between water and wings.

These insects spend their early lives underwater. Then, when they emerge as adults, they carry energy from the river into the air — where birds can catch them.

Swallows.
Flycatchers.
Warblers.
Blackbirds.
Many riparian birds depend on this hidden transfer.

And the study found something striking:

aerial insect-eating birds were more than three times more common where clean-water insect richness was high.

So when a river loses these insects, it may not only be losing “bugs.”

It may be losing food for birds you hear in the trees.

The hatch is not noise.
It is not a nuisance.
It is the river feeding the sky.

Sources: Nature Ecology & Evolution — Schürings & Olden, 2026, Cross-ecosystem linkages between freshwater insects and riparian birds across the USA.

05/17/2026

(For those that like to plan ahead?)

SAVE THE DATE!

Event Time:

Saturday, Nov 14, 2026

9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Location

Highline Lake State Park

1800 11 8/10 Road
Loma, CO 81524
United States

Registration is required with Special
Olympics.
(Copy this link)

https://p2p.onecause.com/26gjplunge?fbclid=IwVERDUAR2w7VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR63BxY_CEqQR4DppL-gE-1Bnc0IexUzIb2JZZqIzE7JTBIkRf-9AwqocwclVQ_aem_v830A3ZJq5h5O-zRPnWarA

Ages:

All Ages
Organizer:

Special Olympics Colorado

720-359-3100

[email protected]

05/17/2026

Today the new boat was getting it’s shakedown cruise, and everyone seemed pretty excited!

Alan Stewart