I saw my first Mountain Bluebird of the season on Monday. Just a flash of ridiculous blue on a fence post, gone before I could point. But that's the thing about this time of year: the proof shows up fast and doesn't wait for you to be ready.

The trails are dry. The seedlings have roots. The birds we've been waiting on are already here, quietly claiming territory. This week's issue follows them out to Bobcat Ridge, where the Valley Loop is open, the meadow is warming, and the bluebirds are house-hunting in the snags.

Happy spring, NOCO Crew. Go find your own flash of blue.

– Megan

Last summer, we introduced you to the Steller's Jay, NOCO's loud, bossy, year-round blue bird who never shuts up and never leaves. This week, meet the other blue: the Mountain Bluebird. Same color family, completely different personality.

The Mountain Bluebird is a migrant. It winters in the southern plains and desert edges, then pushes north as soon as the cold starts breaking. In Colorado, they arrive in late February and early March, which makes them one of the earliest and most reliable signs that spring isn't just a rumor anymore. If you see a flash of electric sky-blue hovering over a meadow, you're not imagining it. Spring just clocked in.

Right now, Mountain Bluebirds are actively scouting nest cavities across the foothills. They don't build their own nests from scratch; they're cavity nesters, meaning they move into old woodpecker holes, broken-off tree limbs, or nest boxes. By early April, eggs are likely already in the nest. Both parents contribute, and they're fiercely competitive about real estate. If you've ever watched one chase a Tree Swallow away from a fence-post box, you know these gentle-looking birds don't mess around.

Where to spot them right now: Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (see Trails & Tales below) is documented Mountain Bluebird habitat. The open grassland-to-foothill transition along the Valley Loop is exactly the terrain they prefer: scattered perches, open sightlines for hunting insects, and cavity-rich trees nearby. The areas recovering from the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire have actually created ideal bluebird habitat; the open canopy and standing snags are precisely what they look for. Watch the fence posts and low branches at the meadow edges, especially in the morning.

How to ID them: Males are impossible to miss: solid, vivid sky-blue from head to tail. Females are subtler: gray-brown with soft blue washes on the wings and tail. They hover in place while hunting (which no other bluebird does), dropping to the ground when they spot an insect. It looks like a tiny, blue kestrel.

One more thing: If you want to help them out, consider installing a bluebird nest box before next season. The North American Bluebird Society has free plans, and the Colorado Bluebird Project runs volunteer monitoring trails across the state. A small box on a fence post in open grassland is sometimes all it takes.

If Horsetooth is the trail system everyone talks about, Bobcat Ridge is the one the regulars don't advertise. Tucked into the foothills west of Loveland near the crossroads in Masonville, it sits on 2,600 acres of grassy valleys, red rock cliffs, ponderosa pine, and some of the best raptor-watching on the Front Range.

Spring hours are generous right now: 6am to 8pm through the end of April. And here's the thing about late March at Bobcat Ridge: the lower trails face south. They dry out weeks before the higher-elevation stuff; and on a clear morning, the valley catches the sun like a bowl. It can feel ten degrees warmer down there than anywhere else you've been that day.

The Trails: The Valley Loop (4.3 miles, easy to moderate) is the main event and the best starting point. It rolls through open meadow and foothill grassland with views of the Devil's Backbone formation and Horsetooth Rock. Mountain biking is allowed on a parallel track. This is where your Mountain Bluebird sighting is most likely (see Wild Things above).

The Eden Valley Spur (1.3 miles, moderate) follows the valley bottom and is the quietest option. If you want to feel genuinely alone on a Saturday morning, this is it.

The Elk Meadow Trail (1.75 miles, easy to moderate) is the newest addition, opened in late 2025. It threads through the meadow and is a solid add-on to the Valley Loop without committing to a big climb.

For those wanting elevation: the D.R. Trail (3.4 miles, 1,100 feet of gain) and the Ginny Trail (5.4 miles, 1,500 feet of gain) climb into Mahoney Park and the ponderosa zone. Named for David Rice Pulliam, and his wife Virginia, who owned this land before their family trust donated it to become the natural area it is today. There's a story there: Ginny once had a narrow dirt road secretly built to D.R.'s favorite overlook in Mahoney Park as a birthday surprise. He loved it so much he named it after her on the spot. Their cabin still stands along the upper loop. The trails carrying their names carry their love for this place, too.

The Birds: Bobcat Ridge sits on the Colorado Birding Trail for good reason. The red rock cliffs near the parking lot host a colony of White-throated Swifts in warmer months. Lazuli Buntings, Yellow-breasted Chats, Western Meadowlarks, and Vesper Sparrows have all been documented here. Mountain Bluebirds are arriving now, and the recovering burn zones have only made the habitat better for them.

Know Before You Go:

The Shrub Club wrapped last week; now we're back indoors full time. Your tomatoes have their first true leaves, your onions are a few inches tall, and the grow-light shelf is starting to feel like a real operation. This week adds the brassica family — the plants that make your neighbors stop and ask, “you actually grew that?” These crops need 4–6 weeks indoors before transplanting in late April. Per the almanac, the start window is Mar 26 through Apr 9 this week is the sweet spot.(all of the following seeds share this window)

🌱 Start These Seeds Indoors This Week

Broccoli: Fast-growing once it gets going. Transplant window: Apr 23–May 7. Keep seedlings compact and close to the light; tall, stretched-out brassicas transplant poorly.

Cauliflower: The slightly fussier sibling. More temperature-sensitive than broccoli and happiest with consistent cool. Worth the extra attention.

Brussels Sprouts: The long game. 100 days to maturity, best flavor after the first fall frost. Start now, transplant late April, harvest October. Worth every single day.

Bok Choy: Quick, beautiful, great in containers. Handles a light frost without flinching. One of the fastest returns on a seed tray you'll get all season.

Also starting this week:

Cantaloupes: Melons need every head start they can get in our shorter season. Start in biodegradable pots since they don't forgive root disturbance.

Tomatillos: Underused and wonderfully productive. Same harvest timing as tomatoes; they can share a tray.

Spinach & Swiss Chard: Both frost-tolerant, both transplant out in late April. Reliable, forgiving, and the first fresh greens you'll actually eat from your own garden.

💡QUICK TIPS

We live in NOCO because we like to move — whether that’s hitting the Devil's Backbone, or just keeping up with the garden. When something hurts or just isn't ‘tracking’ right, Choice City Physical Therapy is where you go to stop guessing. Sam Fischer and his team run a down-to-earth Fort Collins clinic that skips the corporate ‘patient-as-a-number’ vibe. From dry needling to sports rehab, they focus on evidence-based care that actually gets you back to the trails. It’s honest, hands-on work designed to keep the NOCO Crew in motion.

From Berthoud to the Wyoming state line, Fort Morgan to Estes, each week we pull together a list of the top events happening all over Northern Colorado.

Disney On Ice: Road Trip Adventures @ Blue FCU Arena (Loveland) — Various times all weekend — Mickey, Minnie, and friends hit the ice for a full arena spectacular. Kid energy levels: maximum. 👉 Grab your seats

The Cottage: A Comedy Behind Closed Doors @ Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre (Fort Collins) — Various times all weekend — A sharp British comedy about a weekend getaway gone sideways. OpenStage at their funniest. 👉 Get in on the joke

Lunchtime Meditations @ Parker Hall, Namaqua UU Church (Loveland) — Noon to 1pm — A quiet hour in the middle of the week. Free, drop-in, no experience needed. 👉 Breathe for a minute

Wine Dancing @ Sweetheart Winery & Event Center (Loveland) — 6 to 8pm — Movement, music, and a glass in hand. 👉 Dance it out

Euchre Tournament @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 5:30 to 8:30pm — Old-school card game, new-school brewery. Bring a partner. 👉 Deal yourself in

Music Trivia @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 6:30pm — Test your ears at one of Fort Collins' best midweek hangouts. 👉 Name that tune

Music Bingo: 1960s @ Timnath Beerwerks (Timnath) — 6 to 8pm — Dab your card to the decade that changed everything. 👉 Go-go get there

Blast N Bowl w/ Cadzo, Freshman Philosophy Majors & Funscreen @ Chippers Lanes (Fort Collins) — 8:30pm to midnight — Late-night bowling meets live music meets whatever Dracula the Rapper is bringing. Chaotic in the best way. 👉 Bowl into the void

Acoustic Jam with Tommy Ventura @ Tavern at Red Feather Lakes (Red Feather Lakes) — 6:30pm — Live acoustic up in the mountains on a Wednesday. Simple pleasures. 👉 Head up the hill

Board Game Night @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 4 to 9pm — Five hours of tabletop time at one of Fort Collins' best taprooms. 👉 Roll with it

Community Conversations: Understanding Teens' Digital Lives @ Free to Be Studio (Fort Collins) — 5 to 6:30pm — A practical, non-alarmist conversation for parents and caregivers navigating kids and screens. 👉 Join the talk

Sizzle & Spice: Surf and Turf Class @ Farm Fusion (Fort Collins) — 5 to 7:30pm — Hands-on gourmet cooking on Cattlemans Road. 👉 Get in the kitchen

The Positive Spin: Vinyl Record Night @ Mobb Mountain Distillers (Fort Collins) — 6 to 10pm — Flip the record, pour the spirits, repeat. 👉 Spin something good

Magnolia Sessions: RLY ORY @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 7pm — Intimate live music in the Lyric's cozy venue. 👉 Catch the set

Trivia @ Mugs on Laurel (Fort Collins) — 7 to 9pm — Wednesday's little sibling, Thursday edition. 👉 Know stuff, win things

Tom Hamilton Band @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — Doors 7pm, show 8pm — 👉 Get your ticket

Jay Nash & Garrison Starr @ Tavern at the Legion (Estes Park) — 6:30 to 8:30pm — Two respected singer-songwriters, one intimate Legion stage. 👉 Grab a spot

Underground Comedy Showcase @ Stella's Pinball Arcade (Greeley) — 8pm — Miriam Moreno and Jacob Rupp bring the laughs to Greeley's most interesting venue. 👉 Get your giggle on

Trivia Night @ High Brau Taphouse (Greeley) — 6:30 to 9pm — Good beer, hard questions, bragging rights. 👉 Prove you know things

Music Bingo @ Wiley Roots Brewing (Greeley) — 6:30 to 9pm — Dab your card, name that song. 👉 Bingo your ears out

Bohemian Café featuring Elise Wunder @ Sunrise Ranch (Loveland) — 7 to 9pm — Live music in the most unexpectedly lovely setting in the valley. 👉 Find the ranch

City Star Social Run @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — 6 to 7pm — Run a little, drink a little, meet your neighbors. 👉 Lace up

Breathwork & Reiki @ Wildfire Community Arts Center (Berthoud) — 6:30 to 8:15pm — Reset your nervous system before the weekend hits. 👉 Breathe deep

Tree Planting & Care @ Windsor Library Quiet Space (Windsor) — 5:30 to 7pm — Learn how to put a tree in the ground and keep it alive. Practical, seasonal, free. 👉 Grow something

Poker Night @ Mighty River Brewing (Windsor) — 6 to 8:30pm — Cards, craft beer, and a little friendly competition. 👉 Ante up

First Friday Art Walk @ Old Town Square (Fort Collins) — 6 to 9pm — Galleries open, artists out, Old Town at its best. The monthly reason to wander. 👉 Go see something

Possibilities: Michael Safran Solo Exhibition @ Cornerstone Gallery at the Masonic (Fort Collins) — 6 to 9pm — Mid-reception for a solo show worth catching. 👉 See the work

Full Moon Ceremony: Cacao, Reflection & Ritual @ The Movement Apothecary (Fort Collins) — 7:30 to 9pm — A grounding Friday night reset for those who lean that way. 👉 Come to the circle

Poudre River Irregulars @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 4 to 7pm 👉 Catch the set

Three Shots @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 8 to 10pm 👉 Get there

Public Figure w/ Arkwave & HRZN Locked @ Chippers Lanes (Fort Collins) — 8:30pm — Late-night live music at Chippers. 👉 Roll in

Magoo with Friendly Reminders @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — Doors 7pm, show 8pm 👉 Get your ticket

Hat Burning Workshop @ The Artisan Shop & Studio (Loveland) — 6:30 to 8:30pm — Wood burning technique, hat as canvas. Leave with something you made. 👉 Make your mark

LoCo Country @ The Boot Grill (Loveland) — 8pm — Boot-stomping Friday night country in Loveland. 👉 Two-step in

Poudre Valley Playboys @ Mighty River Brewing (Windsor) — 6 to 9pm 👉 Pull up a stool

Karaoke @ The Sand Bar (Windsor) — 7 to 10pm — Friday night mic, Windsor style. 👉 Sing badly, no regrets

First Friday Art Walk @ Downtown Greeley — 5 to 8pm — Galleries, studios, and storefronts open late across downtown. 👉 Walk the block

The Gospel Side of Elvis @ Union Colony Civic Center (Greeley) — 7pm — The King's spiritual catalog, live on stage. Unexpectedly moving every time. 👉 Say amen

Country Swing Dance Lessons @ Greeley Stampede (Greeley) — 6:30 to 8:30pm — Learn to two-step before rodeo season hits full swing. 👉 Get your boots moving

High Stakes Open Mic Competition @ High Brau Taphouse (Greeley) — 6:30 to 9pm — Open mic with something on the line. 👉 Take the stage

Downright Ornery @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — 6 to 8:30pm 👉 Find out why

Winter Farmers Market @ Foothills Shopping Center (Fort Collins) — 10am to 2pm — Local vendors, fresh goods, one of the last weekends of the winter market run. 👉 Stock up

Tattoo Pop Up w/ The Painted Lady Tatts @ Breckenridge Brewery (Fort Collins) — 11am to 8pm — Walk-in ink with a pint on the side. 👉 Get some art

Euro Nymph Fly Tying Class @ St. Peter's Fly Shop South (Fort Collins) — 10am to 1pm — Learn one of the most effective nymphing techniques on the water today. 👉 Tie one on

Make & Mend @ Avenir Museum of Design (Fort Collins) — 10am to 4pm — A full day of textile repair, sustainable fashion, and hands-on making. 👉 Fix something beautiful

Book Signing: Virginia Trench @ Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins) — 1 to 2pm — Old Firehouse Books is delighted to welcome Virginia Trench to sign copies of her book, Our Secrets Were Safe 👉 Meet the author

Rabbit & Deer Resistant Plants Class @ Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — 1 to 2pm — Practical NOCO gardening intel for anyone tired of feeding the wildlife. 👉 Outsmart the rabbits

Riichi Mahjong Beginner's Saturday @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 2 to 5pm — Learn the Japanese tile game at your own pace over a cold one. 👉 Draw a tile

The Art of Sencha @ Global Village Museum (Fort Collins) — 3 to 4pm — A guided exploration of Japanese green tea ceremony with scholar Patricia J. Graham. 👉 Slow down for an hour

Live Music: Heart Tribe @ Breckenridge Brewery (Fort Collins) — 4 to 6pm — Afternoon live music at one of Fort Collins' most reliable brewery stages. 👉 Pull up a seat

Sincerely, Sondheim @ The Lincoln Center (Fort Collins) — 7:00pm — Nicholas Rodriguez performs the Sondheim catalog. For anyone who knows what that means — don't miss it. 👉 Take your seat

Switchman Sleepin' Returns @ The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 7:30pm — Come dance the night away with Northern Colorado's premier Grateful Dead tribute band. 👉 Catch the show

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery @ Fort Collins Marriott (Fort Collins) — 6 to 9pm — Dinner, deception, and a killer at the next table. 👉 Solve it

Down the Rabbit Hole @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 8:30 to 11pm 👉 Follow it in

70th Annual World Unity Fair @ Lory Student Center, CSU (Fort Collins) — 5 to 9pm — Seven decades of celebrating global culture on the CSU campus. Food, performance, and community. 👉 See the world

Desert Dwellers: Tabula Rasa Tour @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — Doors 7pm, show 8pm — Psychedelic downtempo and world bass with Mindex and Nyrus in support. 👉 Lose yourself

Girl Scout Volunteer Day @ Good Enough Farm (Loveland) — 9am to noon — Scouts get their hands in the dirt at one of Loveland's working farms. 👉 Dig in

Marshmallow Making for Kids @ Orion's Apothecary (Loveland) — 10:30 to 11:30am — Kids learn to make marshmallows from scratch. Sticky, sweet, and memorable. 👉 Make something gooey

Beginner Crochet Basics @ The Artisan Shop & Studio (Loveland) — Noon to 1:30pm — Cast on for the first time in a low-pressure, hands-on setting. 👉 Start the loop

NoCo Easter Keg Hunt @ Backyard Tap (Loveland) — 1pm — Loveland's leg of the 18th annual grown-up Easter tradition. 👉 Hunt the keg

Spore Swap & Chat @ Orion's Apothecary (Loveland) — 2 to 4pm — A casual mycology meetup for mushroom nerds of all levels. Bring your spores, your questions, or just your curiosity. 👉 Get fungi with it

Stoneware Glazed Bowls Class @ Artisan You (Loveland) — 1pm — Hands in clay, afternoon well spent. 👉 Throw something

Crawfish Boil @ Loveland Aleworks (Loveland) — 4 to 6pm — A full Louisiana-style boil in downtown Loveland. Pinch the tails, suck the heads. 👉 Get in the pot

Date Night Pottery @ The Artisan Shop & Studio (Loveland) — 6:30 to 8:30pm — Skip the dinner reservation. Make something together instead. 👉 Get your hands dirty

Decades Disco Party @ The Love Shack (Loveland) — 8pm to midnight — Craft mocktails, mirror balls, and four decades of floor-fillers. 👉 Boogie on down

Easter Egg Hunt @ YMCA of the Rockies (Estes Park) — 9:30 to 10:30am — Classic Easter morning hunt at one of the most beautiful settings in the Rockies. 👉 Find the eggs

Sean Flynn @ The Rock (Estes Park) — 5 to 8pm — Live music with a mountain backdrop. 👉 Rock out

Adult Easter Egg Hunt @ Estes Valley Community Center (Estes Park) — 4 to 5:30pm — Grown-up Easter done right. 👉 Hunt accordingly

Culture Alley Caribbean Cuisines @ Mighty River Brewing (Windsor) — 1 to 7pm — Caribbean food vendors set up at Mighty River for an afternoon of flavor. 👉 Eat well

Dungeons & Dragons @ Windsor Library James Peak Room (Windsor) — Noon to 4pm — Sessions for both adults and teens. All experience levels welcome. 👉 Roll for initiative

Aubrey Dale @ Mighty River Brewing (Windsor) — 6 to 9pm — Live music to close out the Caribbean food fest afternoon. 👉 Stay for the set

Winter Farmers Market @ Zoe's Cafe & Events (Greeley) — 9am to noon — Greeley's winter market, winding down for the season. 👉 Shop it while it lasts

Springtime Easter Centerpiece @ Mariposa Plants & Flowers (Greeley) — 1pm — Make a seasonal floral arrangement to bring home. 👉 Bloom something

Adult Egg Hunt @ Wiley Roots Brewing (Greeley) — Noon to 5pm — Five hours, hidden eggs, craft beer. Greeley's answer to grown-up Easter. 👉 Hunt it down

Greeley Climbing Collective One Year Party @ Greeley Climbing Collective (Greeley) — 9am to 8pm — One year of holds, chalk, and community. Come celebrate all day. 👉 Climb the walls

Siege Perilous Album Release w/ Wicked Vixen & Starwraith @ Moxi Theater (Greeley) — 8pm — Heavy music, a new record dropping live, and two solid support acts. 👉 Witness the release

The Box State Tour VERSUS @ Stella's Pinball Arcade (Greeley) — 8pm — Hip-hop showcase with Telly, Santa Kimex, JD the MC, and Ahjzae Dallas. 👉 Catch the cypher

Berthoud Barre @ Wildfire Community Arts Center (Berthoud) — 9 to 9:55am — A Saturday morning barre class to start the weekend right. 👉 Find your center

The High Road Home @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — 6 to 8:30pm — A progressive bluegrass band with a soulful Americana and folk twist 👉 Head on up

NoCo Easter Keg Hunt @ 605 S Mason St (Fort Collins) — 1 to 5pm — Fort Collins leg of the 18th annual hunt. Same tradition, different turf. 👉 Find the keg

Herbs for the Creative Mind @ Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary (Fort Collins) — 11:30am to 12:30pm — Explore which plants support focus, inspiration, and creative flow. Practical and a little magical. 👉 Feed your brain

Sunday Sound Bowl Meditation @ The Movement Apothecary (Fort Collins) — 7 to 8:30pm — Close the weekend with resonance. A guided sound bath to carry you into Monday. 👉 Find the frequency

Ohgeesy @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — Doors 7pm, show 8pm — West Coast rap, Aggie stage. 👉 Get your ticket

Hand Knitting Chunky Blankets @ The Artisan Shop & Studio (Loveland) — 1:30 to 3:30pm — No needles, no problem. Knit with your hands and leave with something cozy. 👉 Make something warm

Sip & Swap @ Old Colorado Brewing (Wellington) — Noon to 2pm — Bring something, trade something, drink something. 👉 Come to swap

Writers Group @ Berthoud Community Library (Berthoud) — 10:30 to 11:45am — Bring your pages or just your ears. A low-key weekly group for writers at any stage. 👉 Show up with words

Monday Mugs & Mingles @ FeelLove Coffee (Loveland) — 7:30am — Start the week with good coffee and actual humans. 👉 Come meet someone

Beginning Printmaking @ Wildfire Community Arts Center (Berthoud) — 6:30 to 8pm — Learn the basics of printmaking in a welcoming community studio. Adults and teens 14+ welcome. 👉 Press something