Colorado Birding Adventures focuses on providing a comfortable and enjoyable birding experience for birders of any level. Colorado’s scenery AND bird life are equally spectacular and our friendly, relaxed, and knowledgeable approach to field trips will make your birding adventure productive and memorable. We pride ourselves on our commitment to professionalism, attention to detail, and prompt communications.
Carl Bendorf is owner and a principal guide for Colorado Birding Adventures. Carl is an experienced birding guide, past president of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union, and recently completed a third term on the American Birding Association Board of Directors. He has served as a guide for Birdwatcher’s Digest and the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. In 2011, Carl founded Iowa Young Birders and served as Executive Director until 2015 and remains a member of the board. Carl shared his passion for encouraging new birders in Iowa Young Birders: Story of a Startup, published by the American Birding Association. Carl and his wife Linda (Director of Blue Sage Writing) live in Longmont, CO.
What Our Clients Are Saying…
We spent 2 days with Carl; the first day started at the top of Rocky Mountain National Park and ended at the bottom. The 2nd day was in the foothills. I have never had a birding guide that worked as hard as Carl, from giving advice on finding birds the days before and after our 2 days with him, to sticking to it when searching for the particularly difficult to find birds. Our goal was the White-tailed Ptarmigan and the American Dipper. We got great looks at both, plus 7 other life birds. My wife and I both highly recommend Colorado Birding Adventures.
Carl is an excellent guide. We did a half day with him, starting in the early a.m. (6:30 a.m.) We started at Sheep Lakes and drove the Trail Road to Medicine Bow Curve and back. Carl knows all the great birding areas in RMNP and was able to help us see and photograph many life birds and mammals, such as Marmots and Least Chipmunks. The highlight of our trip was seeing two female Dusky Grouse that crossed Trail Ridge Rd. near the Endovalley turn off. Carl also knows when to instruct about birds and wildlife, and when to be quiet so his clients can just enjoy the beauty of Rocky Mt. National Park on their own. Highly recommended for local knowledge, ability to find birds and wildlife and personable and friendly guiding. Everything was perfect and as we expected.
“Birding in Colorado was a “Rocky Mountain High” for me! Those two days were easily some of the best days of birding I’ve ever experienced. Carl Bendorf, lead guide and owner, made it an experience of a lifetime by getting me on practically all the birds I was desiring to see. (He even made a herculean effort in getting me on a White-tailed Ptarmigan in spite of striking out because of the difficult periods of snow and extreme winds at 12,000 feet. That effort was a reflection of just the kind of birding guide he is.)
I loved spending those two days with Carl, especially that very special moment between him, myself, and a Northern Pygmy Owl, which was my highest target bird on my list for the trip. The time with Carl solidified a birding philosophy of mine, that it’s not “just” about the birds, it’s also about the birding friendships developed along the way.
If you’re looking for experienced, expert, and personal birding…I HIGHLY RECOMMEND… Carl Bendorf and Colorado Birding Adventures.”
I loved spending those two days with Carl, especially that very special moment between him, myself, and a Northern Pygmy Owl, which was my highest target bird on my list for the trip. The time with Carl solidified a birding philosophy of mine, that it’s not “just” about the birds, it’s also about the birding friendships developed along the way.
If you’re looking for experienced, expert, and personal birding…I HIGHLY RECOMMEND… Carl Bendorf and Colorado Birding Adventures.”
“I recently had a phenomenal 2.5 days of birding with Carl Bendorf, the owner of Colorado Birding Adventures. I am an experienced bird photographer but had never had the opportunity to photograph in Colorado. I reached out to Carl to not only help maximize my time but take advantage of his skill and experience to find things I likely wouldn’t on my own. My investment really paid off. I was able to get excellent shots of multiple species including several I had never seen or photographed before.
Some highlights include superb photos of Black-billed Magpie, Steller’s Jay, Canada Jay, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Prairie Falcon, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Dipper, Townsend’s Solitaire, and of course the extremely elusive White-tailed Ptarmigan! The ptarmigan was by far the most exciting. We spent several hours well above 12,000 feet looking and were finally rewarded with amazing and close views. I took more than 10,000 images in our time together and am just now going through them.
On a personal note, Carl is the quintessential gentleman. Not only is he knowledgeable, he has a tremendously amiable personality that no doubt allowed him to thrive in his previous life as a development officer at a major university. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know him in our short time together. I have no doubt I will be taking advantage of his services again in the near future. I cannot recommend him enough for anyone wanting to see the amazing birds of Colorado.”
Some highlights include superb photos of Black-billed Magpie, Steller’s Jay, Canada Jay, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Prairie Falcon, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Dipper, Townsend’s Solitaire, and of course the extremely elusive White-tailed Ptarmigan! The ptarmigan was by far the most exciting. We spent several hours well above 12,000 feet looking and were finally rewarded with amazing and close views. I took more than 10,000 images in our time together and am just now going through them.
On a personal note, Carl is the quintessential gentleman. Not only is he knowledgeable, he has a tremendously amiable personality that no doubt allowed him to thrive in his previous life as a development officer at a major university. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know him in our short time together. I have no doubt I will be taking advantage of his services again in the near future. I cannot recommend him enough for anyone wanting to see the amazing birds of Colorado.”
“I was thrilled with how in-tune my guide, Carl Bendorf, was with helping me find the birds I was looking for. In my case, I was trying to see and photograph as many Colorado birds as possible in a few days, and Carl really went above and beyond to help me achieve that goal. He knows where to find the birds you are looking for. Be prepared for amazing birds and stunning landscapes (and if you are lucky, other critters as well!). This was a beautiful, unforgettable experience – highly recommended!! (one full day Pawnee Grassland, one full day Rocky Mountain National Park)”