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April 15, 2008 FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Audubon New Mexico’s Best Birding Spots Santa Fe, NM – Startlingly colorful Western Tanagers, Red-naped Sapsuckers and Golden Eagles are just a few of the birds that can be spotted in New Mexico this time of year by even the most inexperienced birdwatcher. People are already hearing the wing whirring of Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and the elaborate songs of Curve-billed Thrashers, members of the mockingbird family, which can convince the novice that there must be at least three or four species around. “New Mexico has some wonderful locations for bird watching,” says Susan McGreevy, who spends her volunteer hours protecting birds and their habitat for Audubon New Mexico, the state office of the National Audubon Society. “Birding is the perfect love affair with feathered friends, with nature, and with conservation. People who visit these sites will not only enjoy the places and the birds, they will probably develop a new or strengthened commitment to conserving them.” Karyn Stockdale, Audubon New Mexico’s Executive Director, notes that favorite birding sites can be somewhat personal choices, but suggests that individuals and families are unlikely to go wrong with these locations: Orilla Verde Recreation Area is located along the Rio Grande one mile past the turnoff at Pilar and extends up the Rio Grande. The area is a fee area operated by the Bureau of Land Management and is very popular with fishermen. A visitor center is located on NM68 across the road from the village of Pilar. Bird habitats include the river, associated willows and tamarisk, mature cottonwood groves (especially at the Orilla Verde and Petaca Campgrounds), numerous seeps and springs along the canyon walls, piñon, and rim rock. This is an excellent area for Bullock's Oriole in the spring and summer and for Piñon Jay, Canyon Wren, Rock Wren, and Bushtit all year. The dirt road on the right before the bridge to Carson follows the Rio Pueblo to a dead end less than a half-mile up the canyon. The area usually has Dipper all year and has had breeding Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. Both Canyon and Rock Wrens are plentiful.
Hyde Park and Santa Fe Ski Basin:
The extended area near Hyde State Park and along the trails off the road to the
ski area includes several hiking options, each of which has birding
opportunities. Williamson's Sapsucker's (breeding), Hammond's and Cordilleran
Flycatchers, Western Tanagers, Nuthatches (Red and White-breasted, Pygmy),
Mountain Chickadees, Steller’s Jays, and Western Warblers are some of the
species anticipated within the Black Canyon campground and trails. Further up
Hyde Park Road, Blue Grouse are sometimes seen at elevations between the Borrego
Trail to the ski basin. Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro is the quintessential birding spot for residents and visitors to New Mexico. Most people know about the cranes, geese, ducks and eagles who winter at the Bosque, but the refuge offers excellent birding year-round. Visit www.friendsofthebosque.org for a list of birds by season. Percha Dam State Park and Caballo Lake State Park along the Southern Rio Grande offer some of the best birding in the state, especially excellent in spring and fall migrations. These areas provide good opportunities to see Bald and Golden Eagles, Neotropic Cormorant, Common Merganser, Sandhill Crane, and various gulls. At Dripping Springs Recreation Area near Las Cruces, owned by the Bureau of Land Management, trails are excellent year-round and show off many species of birds, including White-throated Swift, Black-chinned Sparrow and Scott’s Oriole. and Black-throated Sparrow. Big Ditch Park Once the main street of Silver City in the late 1800s, this unique park was created by a series of floods in the early 1900s. It offers pleasant birding near historic downtown Silver City. The Visitor Center has feeders. Possible sightings include the Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Cassin's and Western Kingbirds, Summer Tanager, Bullock's Oriole, Townsend's Solitaire, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager and Cassin's Finch. Stockdale is quick to note that, of course, this list isn’t exhaustive and every part of New Mexico has incredible birding hot spots. If given the chance, she could also describe birding areas outside of Roswell, Farmington, and Deming. All across New Mexico, International Migratory Bird Day on May 10th will see bird counts conducted county by county across the state. These counts, like the more well known Christmas Bird Counts, are an opportunity for citizens to provide scientific data that is combined by the Audubon Society and Cornell University to provide a broad-scale view of the status of birds across the continent. In New Mexico, counts are organized by local chapters of Audubon. Check the website at nm.audubon.org and click on the “Chapters” button for information about how you can participate in these counts. Beginners are always teamed up with more experienced birders. “This is the best time of year to get your family connected to birds, nature and to conservation,” adds Stockdale. “Get out and start watching. You’ll have a great time and maybe discover a special birding spot of your own.” Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. The RANDALL DAVEY AUDUBON CENTER is located at 1800 Upper Canyon Road, bordering the Santa Fe National Forest at the end of Upper Canyon Road in Santa Fe. Here you’ll find an environmental education classroom, nature store, hiking trails, the offices of Audubon New Mexico, and the historic home and studio of Santa Fe artist Randall Davey (1887 – 1964). The Center is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information on birding and conservation in New Mexico visit: nm.audubon.org or call (505) 983-4609. ### |