Broad-tailed Hummingbird.
Many Hummingbirds have been passing through including Black-chinned. 

 Barn Swallow around the ranch HQ.

Audubon's Warbler. 

May is a busy month for birds! All kinds of migrants are pouring into North America from Central and South America.
Here at Zapata, the number and variety species is increasing daily. The rising temperature brings about a huge emergence of insect and invertebrate life, which in turn provides food for newly arrived migrant birds looking to feed up and continue their journey north, some of which will still be 1000’s miles from the final breeding destination. So it’s no surprise that the “oasis” of trees and cover on the ranch provide an excellent stop over as birds pass through the San Luis Valley.

Warblers added splashes of colour to the bare trees including Audubon’s, Myrtle, Orange-crowned, Virginia’s, Townsend’s and Yellow Warblers. S...

May is a busy month for birds! All kinds of migrants are pouring into North America from Central and South America.
Here at Zapata, the number and variety species is increasing daily. The rising temperature brings about a huge emergence of insect and invertebrate life, which in turn provides food for newly arrived migrant birds looking to feed up and continue their journey north, some of which will still be 1000’s miles from the final breeding destination. So it’s no surprise that the “oasis” of trees and cover on the ranch provide an excellent stop over as birds pass through the San Luis Valley.

Warblers added splashes of colour to the bare trees including Audubon’s, Myrtle, Orange-crowned, Virginia’s, Townsend’s and Yellow Warblers. Scarce species turned up too with 2 Nashville Warblers on the 14th, single Black and White Warblers recorded on the 14th and 16th and a Black-throated Grey Warbler on the 11th. By the middle of the week many Yellow Warblers were in song and defending territories amongst the HQ cottonwoods.

Swallow numbers went from a few Barn Swallows on the 10th to many hundreds of Cliff Swallow, Violet-green Swallow by the weeks end. Single Tree Swallows and Bank Swallows on the 16th. As I write all the Cliff Swallow colonies on the workshop and abandoned properties have been reoccupied with birds busily repairing nests, and Violet-greens prospecting tree cavities for potential nest sites.

Bullock’s Orioles begun to arrive from 15th with up to 5 birds emptying the hummingbird feeders of their “nectar” on the 16th. Black-headed Grosbeaks arrived from that date too. A pair of Lewis’s Woodpeckers were around at the beginning of the week but not subsequently, in keeping with their nomadic habits.

Hummingbirds have buzzed through the ranch with Broad-tailed and Black-chinned being seen with regularity on from the 13th.
The first Warbling Vireo and Western Kingbirds recorded on the 14th.

Being at such elevation some species are yet to arrive such as Nighthawks, Tanagers, more vireos and Flycatchers, not forgetting of course the local Black Swifts. With snow still on the surrounding peaks and their waterfall nesting sites still partially frozen, it’s as if they know there’s no point in rushing back just yet.

 

Calving is starting to get a lot slower now although it could be toward the end of June before we are completely done. After two months of checking several times a day, assisting numerous heifers in a day, sorting pairs, dry’s, and heavies twice a week, and all the other details that kept up us completely absorbed, we are finally reaching a point where we can breath and tend to other things. Riding through the calving pasture now, it’s completely different from a month ago. The weather is warm regularly now, the grass is trying to green up, and the number of calves in a day is sometimes 0. This week we will be changing our routine, which still involves checking heifers twice a day, but structured more towards other projects such as irrigation since the snow on the mountains will be melting soon! 

We kicked the branding season off yesterday with a big crew and perfect weather. There were scattered clouds and a freshness in the air from the rain showers the evening before. There were nine guests and six friends to go along with an already large group of staff. I hope (and I do believe) everyone had as good a time as I did.

 Since we found him last season, Gordon has become quite a personable little fellow.  Whether helping us tack our horses, grunting a welcome to guests, or being led around by an 8 year old, he always wants to be a part of the action.

More recently, he has become the welcoming committee/babysitter for new horses.  He kept Kate’s horse Black Friday company when he first arrived, and now he’s palling around with my new horse Booker.  Gordon will help Booker get settled in during these next few days before I turn him out with the herd.  He also provides an extra service-- ge...

 Since we found him last season, Gordon has become quite a personable little fellow.  Whether helping us tack our horses, grunting a welcome to guests, or being led around by an 8 year old, he always wants to be a part of the action.

More recently, he has become the welcoming committee/babysitter for new horses.  He kept Kate’s horse Black Friday company when he first arrived, and now he’s palling around with my new horse Booker.  Gordon will help Booker get settled in during these next few days before I turn him out with the herd.  He also provides an extra service-- getting a horse that has never seen bison before accustomed to these new animals he’ll be seeing a lot more of!

 “As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can." – John Muir

 

Zapata Falls is particularly magica...

 “As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can." – John Muir

 

Zapata Falls is particularly magical this time of year.  After hiking up through the pinyon and juniper woodland, birds chirping, sun shining, you enter the cool recesses of a slot canyon, round a bend and come face to face with a massive wall of ice—a piece of art sculpted by nature herself.  The sun shines down through the frozen falls, leaving the canyon awash in cool blue light, and it feels as if you’ve entered a different world.

My first visit to Zapata was in April 2009 as a guest with my mom and grandma. We discovered the ranch online and thought it sounded particularly interesting being that it’s a nature conservancy that sustains a very healthy and 97% pure bison heard. We instantly fell in love with the area, horses, and staff at the ranch.

My grandmother worked on a ranch in Prescott, AZ and my mother was introduced to riding at a fairly young age. I have had an obsession with horses since before I took my first steps, and riding continues to be a passion of mine. After visiting a second time in June 2011, I knew this was a place I would enjoy working, and would do just about anything to have an opportunity to do so.

Six months ago I decided to take a break from my pursuit of a degree in biological sciences and apply for an internship here at Zapata, in hopes that fate would step in. When I found out that I had been chosen I was absolutely ecstatic, and left everythi...

My first visit to Zapata was in April 2009 as a guest with my mom and grandma. We discovered the ranch online and thought it sounded particularly interesting being that it’s a nature conservancy that sustains a very healthy and 97% pure bison heard. We instantly fell in love with the area, horses, and staff at the ranch.

My grandmother worked on a ranch in Prescott, AZ and my mother was introduced to riding at a fairly young age. I have had an obsession with horses since before I took my first steps, and riding continues to be a passion of mine. After visiting a second time in June 2011, I knew this was a place I would enjoy working, and would do just about anything to have an opportunity to do so.

Six months ago I decided to take a break from my pursuit of a degree in biological sciences and apply for an internship here at Zapata, in hopes that fate would step in. When I found out that I had been chosen I was absolutely ecstatic, and left everything I knew and loved in California to come out to Colorado and be a part of the amazing team here at Zapata. Nothing brings a smile to my face quite like this beautiful place and unique group of wonderful people. There really is something special about Zapata that, unlike other ranches I have visited, feels like home.  

We began working with Colorad-based photographer Steve Weaver in 1999 when we started managing the Chico Basin Ranch. When we launched our partnership with The Nature Conservancy and started managing the Zapata in 2004, Steve was one of the first photographers to join us on the ranch to explore. Over the past 8 years, Steve has spent countless hours photographing the landscape, the bison and the people and has created a portfolio and knowledge of the ranch that is unparalleled. 

This year, we have partnered with Steve to offer our guests the opportunity to spend a day photographing the ranch. If bison are your thing, Steve can find them. If you'd prefer lakes below amazing cloud formations, Steve can give you a choice of two (and force the weather to cooperate). And if you really want action, he can set you up to shoot the wranglers bringing in the horse herd, aglow with the morning light. Ask us how to set up a day with Steve on your upcoming visit to Zapata.
...

We began working with Colorad-based photographer Steve Weaver in 1999 when we started managing the Chico Basin Ranch. When we launched our partnership with The Nature Conservancy and started managing the Zapata in 2004, Steve was one of the first photographers to join us on the ranch to explore. Over the past 8 years, Steve has spent countless hours photographing the landscape, the bison and the people and has created a portfolio and knowledge of the ranch that is unparalleled. 

This year, we have partnered with Steve to offer our guests the opportunity to spend a day photographing the ranch. If bison are your thing, Steve can find them. If you'd prefer lakes below amazing cloud formations, Steve can give you a choice of two (and force the weather to cooperate). And if you really want action, he can set you up to shoot the wranglers bringing in the horse herd, aglow with the morning light. Ask us how to set up a day with Steve on your upcoming visit to Zapata.

Take a look at Steve's site for more information: stephen-weaver.com

Our calves arrived a bit earlier than usual which found us very busy beginning last week.  All in all, calving is going well and we have scrambled a bit to get organized for the heavy calving days.  So far it seems that certain days, for whatever reason, start and end very busy with up to ten newborns in a day.  The next couple of days after that are slower with maybe half that many.  We have organized ourselves now with two pens set up in the middle of the calving pasture where heifers in need of help can be taken and cared for easily.  Help ranges from pulling an extra big calf out to helping a newborn stand up or bottle feeding a young one until it can stand and nurse on its own.  We also were happy to have Stuart arrive from the Chico.  He will be here to help calve for two weeks and then he will switch with Nick and then&nb...

Our calves arrived a bit earlier than usual which found us very busy beginning last week.  All in all, calving is going well and we have scrambled a bit to get organized for the heavy calving days.  So far it seems that certain days, for whatever reason, start and end very busy with up to ten newborns in a day.  The next couple of days after that are slower with maybe half that many.  We have organized ourselves now with two pens set up in the middle of the calving pasture where heifers in need of help can be taken and cared for easily.  Help ranges from pulling an extra big calf out to helping a newborn stand up or bottle feeding a young one until it can stand and nurse on its own.  We also were happy to have Stuart arrive from the Chico.  He will be here to help calve for two weeks and then he will switch with Nick and then Amy, both also from the Chico.   

 This year we'll be opening a store at the lodge. For years we've been building leather and bison-made goods for friends and family and this year we'll start selling through the lodge store and online. 

The leather goods are all made on the ranches, Zapata and Chico Basin, by all the ranch crew depending on the time of year, family members of the crew, and members of the local community. 

The bag above is one of the favorites so far. We will start queueing orders if you'd like a bag like the one above. Send us a note and we'll get you on the list and a new bag your way within a few weeks.

 This year we'll be opening a store at the lodge. For years we've been building leather and bison-made goods for friends and family and this year we'll start selling through the lodge store and online. 

The leather goods are all made on the ranches, Zapata and Chico Basin, by all the ranch crew depending on the time of year, family members of the crew, and members of the local community. 

The bag above is one of the favorites so far. We will start queueing orders if you'd like a bag like the one above. Send us a note and we'll get you on the list and a new bag your way within a few weeks.



This will be the new store location where we'll soon have a cabin set up with a full leather workspace. For those of you who have been here before, this is the same location where we used to have the massage tipi. The leather shop within the store will be used for making everything from bags, bison-fur pillows, belts, bridles, chinks, and bracelets to bison-fur beer koozies, and where we'll spend time tooling and leather-stamping with guests. Leather work is one of our biggest passions and we're looking forward to spending time at the table with our guests and sharing our creations for everyone to enjoy at home. 

Rex, Mike, possibly a person or two from the lodge, and I will be taking a staff pack trip next week. It’s still pretty cold but we will bring a tent with a wood stove and we should stay plenty toasty. We are doing it simply for a fun, just a good thing to do once in a while as a team, although it does help us come up with new ideas for our trips with guests and gives me a good idea of how much repair my gear needs. We may be able to do some fishing in Sand Creek or just look for wildlife. It’s a cool time of year to go back there because we will most likely not see any other people.