Pico Study 2025

I joined Evelyn on 5 August (Pica Study #1) and again on 31 August (Pica Study #2).

Please be patient while photos load.

They will open in a new browser window.

Pica Studies with Evelyn 2025

20250805

Evelyn had completed several studies already. She invited me to join her on another as a chance to share some time together. I drove a bit wildly over Independence Pass the day prior in the Miata. She spoiled me with several delicious home cooked meals over the next couple of days. On the 5th, we traveled in her vehicle east of Aspen turning right and southeast onto a dirt jeep road paralleling Lincoln Creek. Evelyn stopped several times to check for hot campfires and pickup trash as part of her responsibilities. We parked at the Tabor Creek/Lake trailhead. According the Evelyn the next section of road up to reservoir required a committed four wheel drive vehicle.

We waded across Lincoln Creek through the very chilly water and started our way up the Tabor Creek valley. There is a trail in this valley that leads up to Tabor Lake. A single man was headed up to fish the lake. We stopped at a designated study location in a scree field a short distance up the valley.

The study, I believe, is organized by the Denver Natural History Museum. The pick a location from an aerial photo. People on the ground then go to that spot. They listen for pica chirps and count the number of pica sightings over a defined period. They look for pica scat and hay piles. The percentage of lichen on the rocks is measured as are the size distribution of the rocks in the scree field. Evelyn reports this and other information back for the study.

We continued up the valley to another selected pica study sight. This one had a gigantic 'hay pile'. It's the pica's winter food storage. I was impressed. I was also appreciative to learn more about these small animals that scurry amongst the fields of rocks above timberline.

With this sight study completed we agreed to take a slight detour climbing higher to visit Tabor Lake. A 12-15 inch rainbow trout greeted us as we approached this high alpine lake. The water was crystal clear and cold. We sat enjoying the views and the tranquility. We saw no one else after the parking lot.

On the drive down Lincoln Creek we arrived at one campsite with trash piled up on a smoldering fire ring. Luckily it had been damp enough that a fire didn't start! The campers had also broken some glass beer bottles which were a tedious chore to clean up - some glass still remains.

20250831

Evelyn invited me to join her on her last pica study for the summer in the creek drainage immediately west of Tabor Creek. This valley doesn't have a name but ends at Tellurium and West Tellurium peaks. This valley also doesn't have a trail. We started out having to cross Lincoln Creek. I managed to toss down some rocks and logs so that I didn't have to wade. We quickly found ourselves climbing over and through massive avalanche log piles. We were both cautious to avoid a bad fall. The willows were thick as well, but fortunately we stumbled across several game trails which made the going easier.

The pica study sight was well up the valley on a massive rock field. We heard and saw a number of picas in the area, but only one near us that briefly showed itself to see who we were.

Evelyn had brought some binoculars this time. I took some time to scan the valley looking for big game. Moose seemed likely to be hiding back in the cover of trees in this valley. High on the mountainside I spotted five mountain goats showing off their white. They'd have been virtually impossible to pick out as far away as they were despite their white coats. They moved about in a small area eating the entire hour plus we spent at the pica study sight.

On the return we followed meandering game trails and stopped to enjoy a cascading water fall. We also stopped so that I could munch on ripe raspberries in a large patch.

Evelyn again spoiled me with her delicious cooking during my visit.