Birding spots · Colorado
Best Birding Spots in La Plata County, Colorado
Pastorius Reservoir State Wildlife Area leads La Plata County's birding spots with 237 species reported, best in spring. 23 spots in the county have enough data to rank.
Species counts are birds reported at least three times in that season at that spot, 2016–2025. Busy spots list more species simply because more people look, so compare the checklist counts. Spot names come from public map data and hotspot listings.
| Spot | Species | Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastorius Reservoir State Wildlife Area | 237 | 73 | 211 | 139 | 167 |
| Huck Finn Pond | 166 | 69 | 120 | 112 | 116 |
| Lake Nighthorse | 145 | 41 | 107 | 74 | 98 |
| Vallecito Reservoir | 120 | 12 | 64 | 84 | 52 |
| Haviland Lake State Wildlife Area | 100 | 17 | 64 | 82 | 39 |
| Park | 85 | 43 | 60 | 57 | 40 |
| Park (Sale Barn Canyon) | 82 | 15 | 50 | 57 | 13 |
| Turner Reservoir | 80 | 12 | 54 | 38 | 38 |
| Rank Park | 80 | 29 | 57 | 43 | 8 |
| Whitewater Park | 76 | 39 | 46 | 37 | 20 |
| Park (Durango) | 69 | 35 | 43 | 39 | 20 |
| San Juan National Forest (Chapman Lake) | 69 | 0 | 15 | 61 | 22 |
| Huck Finn Pond (Durango) | 61 | 20 | 40 | 22 | 26 |
| San Juan National Forest (southeast) | 52 | 0 | 25 | 46 | 7 |
| San Juan National Forest (southeast) | 40 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 4 |
| Birding spot near Durango | 149 | 61 | 99 | 104 | 116 |
| Birding spot near Durango (Sunnyside Mesa) | 149 | 64 | 114 | 69 | 99 |
| Birding spot near Durango (Big Canyon) | 112 | 43 | 71 | 82 | 70 |
| Birding spot near Durango (Horse Gulch) | 97 | 40 | 63 | 61 | 54 |
| Birding spot near Durango (Carbon Junction) | 96 | 39 | 46 | 61 | 46 |
| Birding spot near Durango (southwest) | 65 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 22 |
| Birding spot near Durango (Grandview) | 63 | 22 | 44 | 35 | 19 |
| Birding spot near Durango (Buck Creek) | 59 | 2 | 29 | 47 | 17 |