| Ownership |
Cibola
National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road, NE, Suite A, Albuquerque, NM
87113, 505-346-3900
Hawk Watch International, 1800 S. West Temple, Suite 226,
Salt Lake City, UT 84115, 801-484-6808,
hwi@hawkwatch.org |
| Habitats |
Forest (temperate coniferous) |
| Land-use |
Nature conservation |
| Threats |
None noted |
| Site Criteria |
State conservation species (D1), State raptors (D4vi) |
| Site Description |
Each fall, thousands of migrating raptors fly close
to the crest of Capilla Peak in the Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque.
Migrating raptors use updrafts from the rugged, west-facing canyons of the
Manzanos to gain lift and conserve energy. Raptors in the west tend to travel in
a southeasterly direction during fall migration. In New Mexico, the Jemez and
Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges naturally funnel migrating raptors toward the
Manzanos.
The Manzano site is designated by Hawk Watch
International as a "fall migration site." Several factors make raptor viewing
sites suitable for counts only during one season. Because raptors fly in
different directions, depending on spring or fall migration, a site may not have
a good line of sight for bird observation. Another factor may be that the
funneling effect of the mountain ranges do not work quite the same way in
reverse, due to prevailing winds or local topography. |
| Birds |
About three-quarters of the
migrating hawks seen here include Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Red-tailed Hawk
and American Kestrel. Other raptors observed here include the Golden and Bald
Eagle, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Broad-winged, Swainson's, and Zone-tailed
Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine and Prairie Falcon, and Northern Goshawk, as well as
other species.
Summary data for all raptors observed at the Manzano site during the fall are:
| 1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
| 4835 |
4307 |
4668 |
5040 |
6502 |
4410 |
|
| Conservation Issues |
None noted |
| Conservation Plan |
|
| Monitor(s) |
Hawk Watch International, 1800 S. West Temple, Suite
226, Salt Lake City, UT 84115, 801-484-6808 |
| Nominator |
Hawk Watch International, 1800 S. West Temple, Suite
226, Salt Lake City, UT 84115, 801-484-6808 |
| Sources |
Hawk Watch International website (HWI) |
| Links |
Hawk Watch
International |
| Directions |
From Manzano, take the first right onto dirt FR-245,
directly across from the church. Stay to the right, following signs for New
Canyon and Capilla Peak campgrounds. The road ends in nine miles at the entrance
to second campground below the fire tower. The actual viewing site is one mile
from where you park off the road, 200 yards before fire tower road. The trail is
marked with a hawk silhouette. |
