September into the heart of November are my favorite months in the National Park System. The days aren’t quite as long as they are in July and August, but the bugs and crowds are on the wane, wildlife is on the move, and the crisp night air is perfect for sleeping under the stars, or in a cozy cabin.

A new resource from The Wilderness Society is proving how far-reaching a critical land conservation program has been in its 50-year history. From major national parks in America’s western states to neighborhood playgrounds in the nation’s cities, thousands of open spaces in America have been made possible by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). But this critical funding for conservation is set to expire in less than 80 days unless Congress acts quickly.

There’s more to Rocky Mountain National Park than the extraordinary views from Trail Ridge Road. Willow-choked streams, open meadows, pine forests, and all the edges where those habitats meet make for a park bursting with birding opportunities. After a not particularly spectacular time up in the tundra, I enjoyed a couple wonderful birding days in two very different habitats last month. This is the story of the first of those days.

The Old Fall River Road is a popular route with visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park who are looking for a scenic drive at a slower pace, but the historic road was badly damaged by major flooding in September 2013. Thanks to emergency funding, repairs to the road have been completed in time for the traditional July 4 seasonal opening of the drive.