| Ownership |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Las Vegas
National Wildlife Refuge, Route 1, Box 339, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701,
505-425-3581 |
| Habitats |
Desert, Grassland, Agriculture, Freshwater wetlands (ponds) |
| Land-use |
Nature conservation |
| Threats |
Water levels |
| Site Criteria |
State waterfowl (D4ii), State wading birds (D4iii) |
| Site Description |
Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, on a high
plateau where the Great Plains, the
Rocky Mountains and the Chihuahuan desert meet, provides habitat for a
variety of bird life. This 8672 acre refuge contains native grasslands,
croplands, marshes, ponds, timbered canyons and streams providing habitat for
over 270 bird species. Management practices including grazing, grain crop production and water manipulation,
provide a variety of habitats thereby enhancing species diversity.
Playa lakes occur where shallow depression wetlands have occurred
naturally, and are managed to provide ponds of various sizes
and depths, to provide habitats for wading, diving and dabbling birds. The
largest lake, McAllister, is owned by the state of New Mexico. The
refuge contains short-mid grass prairie, a few scattered groups of trees, mostly
elms and Russian olives. |
| Birds |
A few grassland species nest here such as Long-billed Curlew,
Burrowing Owl, and Grasshopper Sparrow. This refuge is mostly important for
migrating and wintering waterfowl and other water dependent birds such as Bald
Eagle, gulls, shorebirds, etc. It also hosted nesting Aechmophorus and Eared
Grebes. In fall migration, hundreds of sparrows migrate through the grasslands. |
| Conservation Issues |
None noted |
| Conservation Plan |
|
| Monitor(s) |
None assigned |
| Nominator |
Christopher Rustay, 1824 Stanford Drive NE,
Albuquerque, NM, 87106 |
| Sources |
Personal observation (PO)
Christmas Bird Counts (NMLV) (CBC) |
| Links |
Las Vegas NWR
Christmas Bird Count NMLV
eBird
New Mexico Hot Spot |
| Directions |
From the University exit (middle exit) on I-25 at Las Vegas
take NM-104 east to NM-281. Follow NM-281 to the refuge. |
| Species |
Year |
Status |
Population |
Sources |
Criteria |
| Bald Eagle |
98-02 |
Winter |
13 individuals average, 24 individuals
maximum |
CBC |
D1 |
| Canada Goose |
91-92 |
Winter |
650 individuals average, 1600
individuals maximum |
CBC |
D4ii |
| Clark's Grebe |
92 |
Breeding |
4 pair |
|
D1 |
| Common Merganser |
92-93 |
Winter |
490 individuals average, 1140
individuals maximum |
CBC |
D4ii |
| Mallard |
91-92 |
Winter |
495 individuals average,
1000 individuals maximum |
CBC |
D4ii |
| Redhead |
91-92 |
Winter |
210 individuals average, 300
individuals maximum |
CBC |
D4ii |
| Ruddy Duck |
92 |
Passage |
630 individuals average, 1500 individuals
maximum |
CBC |
D4ii |
| Snow Goose |
91-92 |
Winter |
400 individuals average, 750
individuals maximum |
CBC |
D4ii |
| Wading birds |
98-02 |
Winter |
57 individuals average, 104 individuals
maximum |
CBC |
D4iii |
| Waterbirds |
98-02 |
Winter |
4220 individuals average,
8528 individuals
maximum |
CBC |
D4ii |
