PEAK TO PEAK - As we turned on County Road 116, we were immediately immersed into the pines as we followed the dirt road to the CU Mountain Research Station to attend their Summer Seminar Series. 

The environment really sets the mood as you make your way towards the Megaron cabin, where we enjoyed a seminar presented by Sara Padula, titled “Hide It, Find It, Survive: The Incredible Memory of Chickadees.” 

Padula, a fourth year Ph.D. student, has been conducting research at the Mountain Research Station for three years. 

We took our seats in the rustic cabin, tucked into a beautiful wooded area, surrounded by small cabins that are inhabited by students conducting research over the course of weeks and even years. It was quite an inspiring experience to see how many others showed up to learn something new. 

Padula opened the presentation by introducing us to the two species of Chickadee that live in our area here in the Peak to Peak. Those two species are the Black Cap and Mountain Chickadee. They do not migrate, so they are with us, all year long! My first thought was, how do these small delicate birds make it through a Rocky Mountain winter? 

Due to the incredible spatial memory of these creatures, they are able to scatter-hoard thousands of seeds in the fall in preparation for winter. The Chickadee will remember where all of these seeds have been hidden and survive from them throughout the entire winter season. How amazing is that?

Padula conducted this research by using a bird feeding device that she programmed to open when prompted by corresponding RFID tags that she attached to Chickadee legs after humanely catching and releasing them. She had 33 Mountain Chickadees and four Black Cap Chickadees conduct hundreds of trials. 

So far, her findings have shown that the Black Cap species seem to have better memory. In general, birds with better memory have a better survival rate, so her goal is to capture more Black Cap Chickadees and to keep conducting trials to see if these statistics remain. Perhaps, if they have better memory, they are harder to catch?

At the conclusion of her presentation, Padula got emotional describing how grateful she is to be a part of this program and to be able to conduct this research surrounded by the beautiful scenery we have here in the Peak to Peak. 

She described watching nature documentaries as a kid and to be doing what she is doing is her dream. It was just so special to see someone so passionate about studying nature!

If you are interested in attending one of these seminars, they ask that you RSVP in advance by email at mrs@colorado.edu. If you can get there early enough, you can buy and enjoy a meal from their cafeteria. 

These seminars are still going on every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. till August 20 at the CU Mountain Research Station located at 818 County Road 116, Nederland.

I highly recommend going to check out the research station and learn about our local environment in such a fun way.