Nature In Colorado Hannah Aste

Nature in Colorado Trees Plants Birds Animals Fish

Trees in Colorado Of many colors and varieties

Aspens are common trees in Colorado, especially in the mountains. In the fall, they change color like other trees but have more variety. They can grow to be 50 feet tall. They are easily killed by fire but they grow from the roots to repopulate quickly. The Blue Spruce is another common tree in Colorado. They are Colorado’s state tree. Evergreen needles are blue or light green about 1 inch long. They can grow to 115 feet tall. These trees can burn in fire very easily. They like to grow in the mountains.

The Black Cottonwood is a beautiful tree with green leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. After it blossoms, its seeds produce cotton. The cotton- covered seeds blows around and plant new trees. The Ponderosa Pine is an evergreen with long pine needles that grow in groups of 2 or 3. These pine trees can grow up to 130 feet tall. It produces pine cones that have sharp prickles at the end of their scales. OUCH!

Plants in Colorado Wild and beautiful

Bindweed is a pesky weed that is found growing in almost every Colorado garden. If not dealt with properly, it will spread and spread until it covers the entire garden. It twists and turns around fences and other plants. But, it does have pretty white or pink flowers to mislead the untrained gardener. Roots can grow 30 feet deep! If you see bindweed, pull it! The Yellow Monkey Flower is a flower that can grow up to three feet tall. It has yellow petals that are in clusters of three. This flower blooms annually. It likes to grow in moist, wet land or even in shallow water. They smell musky, so they are known as “musk-flowers”.

The Columbine is Colorado’s state flower. It has purplish-blue petals with smaller white petals and yellow anthers. They like to grow in woodlands, meadows, and in higher altitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. They are perennials so they live for two years. The Prickly Pear Cactus grow in dry, warm climates. They have round, flat cladodes, which are leaf-like organs of the cactus. It produces fruit. The spines are usually grey, brown, reddish-brown. The blossoming flowers are usually yellow, pink, red or orange.

Birds in Colorado Little song makers and great predators

The Meadowlark lives in the Western part of the United States. It can grow up to 9.5 inches. This bird is considered a medium-sized, stocky song bird. They are part of the blackbird family. They have long bills, short tails, strong legs, and pointed tail feathers. The Lark bunting is Colorado’s state bird. They are a sparrow of the Great Plains. It can grow up to 7 inches. They are considered to be small songbirds. Both wings have large white patches. Their bills are dark blue to black.

The Blue Jay is native to North America. It lives in mostly Eastern and Central states, but will be spotted in western states during migration. It has a bright blue coat with a white underbelly and black detail. They have a noisy song. Blue jays can grow up to 12 inches. The Great Horned Owl has two tufts at the top of its head that look like ears or horns. They have yellow eyes and a black beak with a brown-grey body. These owls are very powerful and able to prey on animals the same size or bigger than them. They live all over the Northern Hemisphere and even in parts of South America.

Animals in Colorado Furry foes and friends

The Mountain Lion, also known as a cougar, is a large cat that can grow up to 8 feet long. It is considered a predator that hunts smaller animals for prey. It has tan hair and a black-tipped tail. It usually inhabits the mountains, but can occasionally be found in the valleys. The Grey Wolf is a large dog that has grey or black hair with a black-tipped tail like the cougar. It can grow up to 6.5 feet in length. It is also a predator that preys on smaller animals. Wolves can usually be found in the mountains. In recent years, the wolf population has almost gone extinct in Colorado.

The Mule Deer is a beautiful animal with large ears similar to a mule. Deer are often preyed upon by predators so these deer were blessed with large ears; that way they can hear predators from miles away. They love to eat weeds, leaves, and twigs. With eyes at the sides of their head, they have a 310 degree view around them. Bighorn Sheep are the official state animal of Colorado. They are known for their large horns. These horns can grow to be 50 inches in length. Bighorns are also known for their amazing balance and agility. They live in the mountains and climb the face of a mountain no problem.

Fish in Colorado In streams and rivers everywhere

The Rainbow trout is a beautiful white-bodied spotted fish with a pink and a green stripe down its side and back, respectively. They live in mountain streams, lakes and rivers, but are sometimes found in lowland reservoirs. The Yellow perch is the most abundant fish in Colorado. They have two separate dorsal fins with large vertical dark stripes on their yellowish sides. These fish can be found in large schools. They can weigh up to 2 pounds.

Walleye are native to Canada and most of North America. The name, "walleye", comes from the fact that the fish's eyes point outward, as if looking at the walls. They can grow up to 30 inches long and weigh 20 pounds. The fish is colored grey and olive green. Greenback cutthroat trout is the official state fish of Colorado. It is similar to the Rainbow trout, but does not have the pink stripe on its sides and heavier spots all over. The cutthroat population has been slowly decreasing, but the Colorado Parks and Wildlife is trying hard to grow the population.

Nature in Colorado Twenty Questions Get Ready!

Pick any of the questions below!

1. How tall can an Aspen grow? 50 feet

2. What is the official Colorado state tree? The Blue Spruce

3. Which tree produces cotton- covered seeds? The Black Cottonwood

4. How tall can a Ponderosa grow? 130 feet

5. Which plant twists and turns around any object? The Bindweed

6. Which flower can grow up to 3 feet tall? The Yellow Monkey Flower

7. Which flower is Colorado’s official state flower? The Columbine

8. Which plant likes to live in dry climates and has prickly spines? The Prickly Pear Cactus

9. Which bird can grow up to 9.5 inches? The Meadowlark

10. Which bird is Colorado’s official state bird? The Lark Bunting

11. Which bird is known for its bright blue coloring? The Blue Jay

12. Which bird has tufts on its head that look like ears or horns? The Great Horned Owl

13. What is another name for the Mountain Lion? Cougar

14. Which animal population came close to extinction in Colorado recently? The Grey Wolf

15. Which animal has large ears and a 310 degree view? The Mule Deer

16. Which animal is the official state animal in Colorado? The Bighorn Sheep

17. Which fish has a pink stripe on both sides? The Rainbow Trout

18. Which fish is the most abundant fish in Colorado? The Yellow Perch

19. Which fish is grey and olive and grows up to 30 inches? The Walleye

20. Which fish is Colorado’s official state fish? The Cutthroat Trout

Great Job! Thanks for playing! Remember, here’s always something new to learn about in nature!