| Burford (Stinking) Lake | |
| Status: | Identified | Area: | 2500 acres (1012 hectares) |
| County: | Rio Arriba | Elevation: | 7100 feet (2160 meters) |
| Town: | Dulce/Tierra Amarilla | Location: | 36°37’N, 106°54’W |
| Ownership | Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Jicarilla Game & Fish Department, P.O. Box 313, Dulce NM 87528, 505-759-3255 |
| Habitats | Shrubland, Wetlands |
| Land-use | Unused |
| Threats | Cattle grazing, drought, fire |
| Site Criteria |
State threatened species (D1), State waterfowl (D4ii) |
| Site Description | Burford (also called Stinking) Lake is New Mexico's largest natural lake and is one of the most significant wetlands in the state. Leopold called Buford Lake "the greatest natural wonder in New Mexico" and estimated that 7000 pairs of 30 species nested there in the 1910s. Burford Lake and 3 nearby smaller lakes vary in size according to the amount of precipitation in their drainage basins. Burford lake was completely dry in 1954 and 1977 and the smaller lakes were dry for longer periods. |
| Birds | At least 30 species breed at these lakes. These include Pied-billed, Eared, and Western Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, White-faced Ibis, American Coot, American Avocet, Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbird, Virginia Rail, and Sora. Ten duck species breed here including Cinnamon, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and Mallard. Burford is an important regional summer molting area for ducks with an average of 5000, mostly Mallard and Gadwall. |
| Conservation Issues | Cattle grazing, especially in dry years, can cause damage to rush and reed areas. |
| Conservation Plan | |
| Monitor(s) | None assigned. |
| Nominator | Dale Stahlecker, Eagle Ecological Services, Santa Fe, NM |
| Sources | Summer Waterbird Populations at Stinking Lake, New
Mexico, 1987-1989 (Stahlecker) (DS)
Burford Lake, New Mexico revisited (Huey and Travis) Observations on the habits of birds of Lake Burford, New Mexico (Wetmore) Breeding Bird Survey Route 60053 Stinking Lake (BBS) |
| Links |
New Mexico Watchable Wildlife Jicarilla Apache Tribe Breeding Bird Survey Route 60053 |
| Directions | Go north of Tierra Amarilla on US-84 to Los Ojos and NM-95. Turn west on NM-95 and continue past Heron Lake and around the north end of El Vado Lake. Continue west until you reach Burford Lake. A detailed map of this area is required. |
| Species | Year | Status | Population | Source | Criteria |
| American Avocet | 87-89 | Breeding | 3 nests average | DS | D1 |
| Brewer's Sparrow | 95-99 | Breeding | 15 individuals average, 25 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Eared Grebe | 87-89 | Breeding | 1500 nests average | DS | D4ii |
| Gray Flycatcher | 95-99 | Breeding | 1 individual average, 3 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Green-tailed Towhee | 95-99 | Breeding | 20 individuals average, 24 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Mountain Bluebird | 95-99 | Breeding | 5 individuals average, 9 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Plumbeous Vireo | 95-99 | Breeding | 4 individuals average, 6 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Sage Thrasher | 95-99 | Breeding | 4 individuals average, 8 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Savannah Sparrow | 87-89 | Breeding | 1 nest | DS | D1 |
| Virginia's Warbler | 95-99 | Breeding | 2 individuals average, 5 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Western Bluebird | 95-99 | Breeding | 7 individuals average, 19 individuals maximum | BBS | D1 |
| Western Grebe | 87-89 | Breeding | 37 nests maximum | DS | D1 |
| White-faced Ibis | 87-89 | Breeding | 15 nests maximum | DS | D1 |
| Wilson's Phalarope | 87-89 | Breeding | 2 individuals | DS | D1 |
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | 87-89 | Breeding | 1045 nests maximum | DS |
