RANDALL DAVEY AUDUBON CENTER

RANDALL DAVEY HOUSE
The National Audubon Society has owned the Randall Davey Audubon Center since 1983. It encompasses 135 acres of land including the historical Randall Davey House. Listed in national, state and city registers of historic and cultural buildings, the house, which is now maintained as a museum, is the original mill building. The 16-inch thick stone walls are now covered by plaster, but the massive, roughly hewn, beamed ceilings of the mill are still visible. The mill's former storeroom was converted to an art studio by Randall Davey. He added large north-facing windows, which look out on the slopes of Santa Fe Canyon.

The property was originally part of the Talaya Hill Grant given in 1731 to Manuel Trujillo. Situated three miles from the Plaza, it was primarily used for grazing and woodcutting until the U.S. Army quartermaster built the stone sawmill here in order to provide lumber for the building of Fort Marcy.

In 1852, the property was sold to the well-known trader and trapper Colonel Ceran St. Vrain for $550. It included, one grist mill, one circular sawmill with extra gearing, the building for said sawmill is a good two story building, built for that purpose. Also two dwelling houses and one stable. In 1856, St. Vrain sold the mill machinery to Joseph Hersch and Isaiah Smith who established a new mill downstream on the Santa Fe River.

The property then passed through a series of owners, including Captain Candelario Martinez who purchased it in 1892. Martinez was an attorney, postmaster and probate judge in Santa Fe. During his ownership the land was cultivated in corn, oats, alfalfa and fruit trees. A story is told about the two impressive cottonwoods in front. Following a visit to Washington, DC, Martinez brought back two saplings packed in his suitcase, and planted them here around the turn of the century.

In 1920 Randall Davey purchased the property and converted the sawmill into his home. He lived and painted here for the next 44 years. Two murals, "Burros Eating Pears" and the frog on the studio door were both painted by Davey soon after acquiring the property. Jim Doyle and Brian Long have since restored the burros.

One of the vanguards of modern art, Randall Davey was born in East Orange, New Jersey in 1887. His decision to become an artist led him to New York and Robert Henri. Henri's belief that art ought to find its sources in the daily lives of people can be clearly seen in Davey's works.

RANDALL DAVEY'S ART
Randall Davey started painting in 1912. He and fellow painter/friend John Sloan were both students of Robert Henri, who had encouraged them to visit New Mexico. They and their wives traveled out to Santa Fe in 1919. Traveling across country from New York City in a Packard touring car, it took many weeks and several flat tires. They intended to camp but spent most nights in hotels and said that the hardest part of the trip was "getting their wives out of the hotel in the morning." The pictorial display on the wall shows an early photo of Randall Davey and John Sloan at the Palace of the Governors. The display chronicles Randall Davey's career.

Randall Davey Audubon Center has drawings and paintings by Randall Davey for sale. Please contact Karyn Stockdale, Executive Director, (505) 983-4609 for further information.

RANDALL DAVEY CHRONOLOGY
* 1887 Born May 24th in East Orange, New Jersey.
* 1905-1907 Studied architecture at Cornell University; received an "Honorable Dismissal."
* 1908 Began studying art with Robert Henri at the New York School of Art.
* 1910 Traveled with Henri in Holland and Spain; participated in the group exhibition, Independent Artists, in April.
* 1911 Married Florence Nicks Sittenham of New York on May 19. That summer Davey painted with Henri and Bellows on Montiegan Island, Maine.
* 1912 Appointed assistant instructor in Henri's summer painting classes in Spain; acquired residence on West 14th Street, New York City.
* 1913 A son, William, is born on March 20th.
* 1915 Received second Julius Hallgarten Prize from National Academy of Design, for "Young Woman in Brown", and Honorable Mention from Panama Pacific Exposition, for "Lighthouse Keeper". Davey along with John Sloan, George Bellows, Henri and Charles Winter establish a formula for a color system based on the thesis of H.G. Maratta.
* 1916 Member of Board of Directors of Independent Artists; painting trip to Gloucester, Mass. with Sloan and Bellows.
* 1917 Spent several months in Cuba--painting in Havana.
* 1919 Motor trip from New York to Santa Fe with John Sloan (see Notes: for description of trip}. In the fall, he taught at the School of Art, Art Institute of Chicago.
* 1920 In the spring, he was a special instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago. He then departed Chicago and moved to Santa Fe.
* 1921 Became a member of the Taos Society of Artists.
* 1921-1924 Taught at the Kansas City Art Institute.
* 1924 Became a member of New Mexico Painters.
* 1925 Served on the committee to organize the Bellows.
* 1930 Divorced from Florence.
* 1931 Member of selection committee of the Broadmoor Art Academy. Served as a juror for the Carnegie International Exhibition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
* 1932 Married Isabel Holt.
* 1934 Daveys in New Orleans (February) while Davey works on a mural for the New Mexico Military Institute--a government commission.
* 1937 Associate, National Academy of Design; painted murals for Will Rogers Shrine, Claremore, Oklahoma.
* 1938 National Academician and Thomas B. Clarke American Figure Composition Prize, National Academy of Design, for "Goose Hunters". Served as juror, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, exhibition. 1939 Served as a juror, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Biennial Exhibition.
* 1945-1956 Taught painting at the University of New Mexico.
* 1957 Elected honorary member, School of American Research, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
* 1961-1962 Davey becomes a member of the Board of Directors of Santa Fe Opera. He designed the covers for the 1961-1962 programs.
* 1963 In September, Isabel dies in the Bernalillo County Indian Hospital at age 70.
* 1964 Randall Davey dies at age 77.

ACTIVITIES

NATURAL HISTORY
 Located at an elevation of 7500 feet, the Randall Davey Audubon Center encompasses 135 acres of intriguing landscapes and wildlife. Bounded by thousands of acres of National Forest and Santa Fe River Watershed land, the Center property provides safe habitat in which plants and animals thrive. Ranging from common to rare, approximately 130 species of birds can be found in or over the various ecosystems of this sanctuary. Nocturnal predators such as Coyote, Gray Fox, Bobcat, and Long-tailed Weasels roam the grounds searching out prey such as Gopher, Cottontail Rabbit, and Deer Mouse. Hundreds of plant species grow in the different ecosystems providing food and shelter for insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles.

*Randall Davey Audubon Center Bird List
*Santa Fe Canyon Mammal List
*Santa Fe Canyon Plant List

A Walk through the Sanctuary's Ecosystems
The main loop trail runs primarily through dry piñon-juniper woodland that consists of Piñon Pine, and Rocky Mountain and One-Seed Junipers, with a scattering of cholla, prickly pear, yucca, chamisa, mullein, grama grasses, and other flowering plants. Juniper Mistletoe grows abundantly on the junipers parasitizing the trees for their water, but providing lots of berries for bluebirds in the winter. Gopher tunnels run under the soil, and harvest ant mounds are visible here and there. Flocks of Bushtits fly about feeding on the seeds of the grasses and chamisa, and Spotted Towhees can be heard "mewing" to each other from under the pines.

As one moves up in elevation toward Bear Canyon the tall Ponderosa Pine begins to appear providing food and shelter for Red Squirrels, Pygmy Nuthatches, and Stellar's Jays. On the east side of the trail loop, the Nichols Reservoir dam can be seen off in the distance with a new Osprey nesting platform situated nearby.

If you hike up the side trail into narrow Bear Canyon, you will encounter an intermittent riparian area with willows growing along the edges. This is a wonderful place to look for butterflies, bathing American Robins, and a migrating warbler or two. Mixed forest of Ponderosa Pine, fir and spruce covers the steep canyon slopes. Douglas Fir, White Fir, and Engelmann Spruce are usually found at higher elevations, but the cool shade of the canyon provides the proper conditions for their growth. As one hikes up into the canyon, Gambel's Oak and Limber Pine will also be found mixed in with the firs and spruces. Colorful lichens cover the granite rocks that provide nooks and crannies for lizards and spiders to hide.

Fed by water from an acequia, the grounds around the visitor center and the historic home of Randall Davey have been used for over a hundred years to grow crops, flower gardens, and fruit trees. Now the cherries, apple, pear and apricot trees feed wildlife rather than people. Birds flock to the feeders in all seasons, butterflies and hummingbirds nectar at the flowers, and Black Bear, Mule Deer, and Gray Fox gorge on the autumn fruit. If you are lucky you will spot a Least Chipmunk scampering up the wall of the artist's home, or a Rock Squirrel diving through the hole in the cellar door.

Across the road from the Randall Davey property flows the Santa Fe River creating a riparian area commonly known as Two-Mile and currently owned by The Nature Conservancy. Until 1993, when an old dam was breached, this part of the Santa Fe Canyon was underwater. Two-mile Reservoir was one of three reservoirs in the Santa Fe canyon that provided water to downstream residents. The other two, Nichols and McClure are still in existence further up the river canyon, but are off-limits to the general public. Willows, cottonwoods, Box Elder Maple, and the invasive Siberian Elm grow along the river in Two Mile and provide habitat for nesting Red-winged Blackbirds, Canyon Towhees, and Warbling Vireos. When the Coyotes howl and yip and cry, it is from this riparian zone that the sound travels.

HIKING TRAILS
There are two major trails on the property: El Temporal Trail and Bear Canyon Trail.

El Temporal is a half-mile loop trail through piñon/juniper habitat. After a short initial climb up to the acequia, it is relatively level throughout. El Temporal means dry farm: tilled land in an arid region without benefit of irrigation and entirely dependent upon seasonal rains. Despite its name this trail can be icy in the winter and muddy in the spring, so wear proper footwear.

Bear Canyon is a side canyon of the Santa Fe River Canyon. You are able to hike up this lovely canyon about a mile and a half before the walls become too steep to climb, and then you must turned around and retrace your steps. This trail is accessible by following the El Temporal trail around to the wooden bench and then following the side trail off to the east.

The ecosystems of the RDAC are VERY FRAGILE! Please obey the following rules that are designed to protect the land, the wildlife, and the visitors.

* NO PETS! We love dogs, but wildlife do not. This sanctuary is home to black bear, coyote, gray fox, and many smaller animals. Domestic animals disturb the area by leaving their scent, chasing animals, and barking. An alternative is the nearby Atalaya Trail at St. John's College which is a very popular pet walking spot.
* STAY ON THE TRAIL! These ecosystems are very susceptible to erosion. When even one person steps off trail it is obvious and then other people follow. For this same reason, BIKES & X-COUNTRY SKIING are also not allowed.
* SMOKE ONLY IN YOUR CAR. This forest hasn't burned in more than a decade and one spark could ignite the forest.
* COLLECTING IS NOT ALLOWED. This sanctuary is a safe haven for all living and non-living things.

NATURE STORE
Stop by the Nature Store for all your birding needs. We carry a large selection of books including local and regional field guides, backyard birding books, wildlife viewing guides, outdoor adventure books, journals, kid’s books and more.

Select from our assortment of birdfeeders to create your own backyard bird habitat. Fill your feeders with our premium mixed seed, black oil sunflower and thistle. Add a water feature and your yard will be active with a variety of amazing wild birds. Don’t forget a nesting box since nesting season is upon us. We stock specific houses for bluebirds and wrens.

Get a clear, close-up view of the birds with a pair of binoculars from Bushnell. We have a selection of full-size and compact models that are ideal for birding. Come by and try them out for yourself!

Grounds: Weddings, Receptions, etc.
The gorgeous and serene lawn, orchard and gardens in front of the Historic Randall Davey home are available for your special event from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Rental also includes a private changing/gathering room and bathroom for bridal parties. Renters are responsible for all food and drink served, serving pieces (dinnerware, flatware, etc.), rental of an appropriately sized tent, tables and chairs, clean up and taking trash off the premises.

Gardening and Landscaping: For all you gardening aficionados or gardener wannabes, we need volunteers to help maintain established gardens as well as more experienced folks to prune trees, etc. If you enjoy sweeping, raking or taking care of potted plants, we can use you, too! (Volunteers needed primarily Spring, Summer and early Fall. Modest supervision.)