Best Ever Birdathon
It was sunny, hot and clear around Socorro on May 3rd, and the birding sizzled! The Audubon New Mexico Birdathon team — Ruth Burstrom, Peter Vennema, Christopher Rustay, Greg Parkhurst, Dana Vackar Strang, and Karyn Stockdale — broke the record set by previous ANM teams in spotting 157 species and raising over $18,000.

We began on Friday night by owling in Water Canyon outside of Socorro then resumed early on Saturday at Riverine Park along the Rio Grande. We checked off Gambel’s Quail and Summer Tanager and here we saw the true birding enthusiasts jump up and down with excitement after seeing a Whimbrel flying overhead.

Our next stop was New Mexico Tech around Turtle Bay Park where we spotted ducks, geese, and many warblers including Yellow-rumped Warbler and male and female Townsend’s Warbler. Thanks to ANM Board member Peter Vennema’s keen eyes, we also saw Indigo Buntings.

At about 10 am, we headed to Box Canyon and were delighted to find the Dusky Flycatcher, Rock Wrens and finally the Gray Vireo up at the pass.

Back at Water Canyon, we found an amazing amount of birds including the somewhat rare and difficult to distinguish Eastern and Western Meadowlarks, spectacular colorful birds like Red-faced Warbler, Western Tanager, Hepatic Tanager, Steller’s Jay, and the unmistakable calls and songs of the Pine Siskin, Olive Warbler, and Broad-tailed Hummingbird. We added Red-tailed Hawk, uncommon at this time of year in this area, and Zone-tailed Hawk, which mimics Turkey Vultures (we saw those too).

Hot, dusty, and hungry, we stopped for a picnic lunch and spotted the Mountain Chickadee.

Next we headed to Bosque del Apache that afternoon. Christopher Rustay spotted a Peregrine Falcon soaring over a nearby field. The Visitor Center’s cactus garden provided a playground for Scott’s Oriole. At the Refuge’s ponds and fields, we saw Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, a huge crowd of American White Pelican, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Swainson’s Hawk, and Vermilion Flycatcher showing off their flying skills. At dusk, we spotted a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, checked off Virginia Rail, Killdeer, Pied-billed, Eared, Western, and Clark’s Grebes, Lesser Nighthawks, witnessed a Tom Turkey strutting for a grouping of 12 female turkeys, found a Glossy Ibis and Northern Pintail, and were dazzled by the noise of the Great Egrets and Neotropic Cormorants rookeries. As the sun set, it was pretty special to see almost 50 Great Egrets, the National Audubon Society mascot.

Heads spinning from our full adventure, we were still able to spot the Great Horned Owl as we left the Refuge in the dark.

Many thanks to all of you who joined the Birdathon team and to those of you who made monetary contributions to the effort. Your generous support broke the record at $18,000 to date. Your support helps us to conserve and restore the natural ecosystems of New Mexico. We are also able to bring outreach programs to schoolchildren throughout the state so that they may become responsible stewards of the land.

Again this year we were so fortunate to have Christopher Rustay as our leader. His talent as a birder is remarkable, but it is his humor, his dedication to the task, and his willingness to stop in the middle of this frenetic adventure to teach us about bird behavior that makes Birdathon such a treat for all of us. Thank you, Christopher, for all you do for Audubon New Mexico and for our state’s birds. •

New Mexico Birding Hot Spots. Where is your favorite place to bird?
We asked several individuals within Audubon New Mexico this question and we heard a lot about birding hot spots across our state. With about 500 different birds on New Mexico’s state bird list –one of the highest –it should come as no surprise that there are a lot of favorite places.

Birds are magical. They inspire us and have the ability to motivate us into action. Birds are a gateway to engage people in our natural world – through festivals, events, birding trails, volunteer opportunities, classes, bird clubs, Audubon chapters, nature centers, parks, and Audubon Centers.

Startlingly colorful Western Tanagers, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins, Golden Eagles, and Western Bluebirds are just a few of the birds that can be spotted in New Mexico by even the most inexperienced birdwatcher. People love hearing the wing whirring of Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and the elaborate songs of Curvebilled Thrashers, members of the mockingbird family.

“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 as a member of the Board of Directors. “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.”

Favorite birding sites can be somewhat personal choices, but staff at Audubon New Mexico suggest that individuals and families are unlikely to go wrong with these locations:

Orilla Verde Recreation Area is located 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 NM 68 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.

Friends of Heron Lake and El Vado Lake, near Chama, host the annual Osprey Festival from July 11-13^th which offers visitors a good excuse to head to northern New Mexico to see adult pairs of ospreys nesting. Hosted tours, boat rides, workshops, and other activities allow for folks to learn all about ospreys (and many other birds!). Check out www.ospreyfest.com for more information.

The Sangre de Cristo Audubon Society, our chapter based in the Santa Fe and Los Alamos area, points out many great birding hot spots, but Hyde State Park and Road and the Santa Fe Ski Basin capture the interest of many. 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. The Santa Fe Ski Basin has a great trailhead for those who want to venture into the high mountain back country. Very good birding opportunities are found around the parking areas and on the slopes of the ski basin. In the summer it is quite common to find Red Crossbill in the pine trees adjacent to the parking area and near the ski lodge. Other species expected include Hermit Thrush, House Wren, Junco, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Gray Jay, and Clark’s Nutcracker.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Randall Davey Audubon Center (1800 Upper Canyon Road) east of Santa Fe where a wide variety of birds reside and visit during migration. Nestled at the mouth of the Santa Fe Canyon, our Audubon Center encompasses 135 acres and includes miles of hiking trails, a nature store, our state offices, and the historic home of artist Randall Davey. Much of the Center’s property boundaries adjoin the Santa Fe National Forest and the upper section of the adjacent Santa Fe River canyon has been closed to public use since the 1930s. This circumstance has preserved a wilderness area particularly rich in wildlife. More than 100 species of birds have been observed in the Canyon. The adjacent reservoir attracts migratory birds such as Osprey, Blue Heron, and waterfowl. Favorites on Audubon’s grounds include the Spotted and Canyon Towhee, Hairy Woodpecker, Lesser Goldfinch, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Typical birds found are hummingbirds, nuthatches, juncos, warblers, woodpeckers, jays, and chickadees. The plant community along the Santa Fe River bottom provides a home to towhees, goldfinches, vireos, robins, and others. We offer free guided bird walks on Saturday mornings at 8:30 am.

Albuquerque-based but with a wide ranging area, the Central New Mexico Audubon Society has participated for over five years at the Sandia Crest in efforts to study the Rosy Finches that return there each winter. The road up to the Crest has many great birding stops at Cienega Canyon all the way to the Crest.

A favorite on everyone’s list is the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro. No secret here – Bosque del Apache is the quintessential birding spot in 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.

The Mesilla Valley Audubon Society, our chapter located in Las Cruces, boasts that at Dripping Springs Recreation Area, owned by the Bureau of Land Management, trails are excellent year-round and show off many species of birds, including Whitethroated Swift, Black-chinned Sparrow and Scott’s Oriole. Additionally, at Leasburg Dam State Park, located on the Rio Grande about 20 miles north of Las Cruces, there are several kinds of habitat in the area, which means many different kinds of birds can be found at and near the park. During migration different warbler and vireo species, along with towhees, grosbeaks, and orioles may be found in the brush along the sides of the irrigation canal as well as in the trees and brush along the river. Also many ducks, cormorants, swallows, sparrows and birds of prey visit the park.

The Southwest NM Audubon Society, our chapter located in the Silver City-Deming area, highlights the Big Ditch Park in Silver City, state parks along the Rio Grande like Elephant Butte Lake for the thousands of Western and Clark’s Grebe and other water birds, and the middle Gila River valley for Gila Woodpecker and Hooded Oriole. Big Ditch Park offers pleasant birding near historic downtown Silver City. 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.

Rattlesnake Springs is an oasis in southern New Mexico located 5 miles south from the turn off to Carlsbad Caverns. At Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Center, there is usually a list of recently seen birds on the bulletin board at the parking area. The natural spring is a popular nesting area for many birds. Watch for Painted Buntings at the spot on the drive in from the highway, where the creek crosses the road and in spring-summer you may see: Vermillion Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bell’s Vireo, orioles, sparrows, warblers, cardinals, wild turkeys, owls, and hawks including Gray and Zone-tailed.

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located about 12 miles east of Roswell. Watch for quail, roadrunners, sparrows, ravens, pheasants, blackbirds, hawks, and falcons.

Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive and every part of New Mexico has incredible birding spots. These four chapters and many bird clubs around the state offer field trips throughout the year. Our website, nm.audubon.org, has links to birding groups in Farmington, Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Silver City, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and El Paso, Texas.

Summer is a great time to get your family connected to birds, nature and to conservation. Get out and let yourself be inspired by the magic of birds.

You Give Audubon Strength
Audubon’s greatest strength and potential lies in its membership of committed, involved individuals in communities across New Mexico. Our current Audubon chapters in the greater Albuquerque area, Las Cruces, Santa Fe-Los Alamos, and Silver City-Deming provide local birding and nature activities and projects, informative presentations, diverse resources, and a voice in local politics, land-use planning, and conservation efforts.

Our goal is an informed citizenry. Audubon’s 100+ years of history across the nation and 40 years of history in New Mexico are due to our community-based or “grassroots” constituents who have been committed to its work over the years.

This year, Southwestern New Mexico Audubon Society marks its 40th year (founded in 1968), Mesilla Valley Audubon Society celebrates their 30th anniversary, and Randall Davey Audubon Center celebrates its 25th year. More details for celebrations to follow – but dates are set. I hope you’ll join us in the festivities and find a renewed commitment in yourself to become reengaged and more informed with what is happening in your own community.

Whether you are involved with a chapter or not, please join our collective efforts to build our grassroots voice to protect and restore New Mexico’s rivers, to promote outdoor education (for all ages!), and to fight for our enchanted state’s rich bird and wildlife beauty and habitat.

Your support is appreciated; your voice is invaluable.

Many Thanks & Sad Farewells
On another topic, it is with sadness and the greatest respect that we bid farewell to Eileen Everett, former Environmental Education Manager. During her four years with Audubon, Eileen elevated Audubon’s reputation and touched the hearts and minds of thousands of children across New Mexico.

Additionally, over the winter, Jennifer Kleinrichert, former Environmental Education Specialist, decided to move on. Jennifer never failed to inspire everyone around her. Last we heard, she was planning several camping and hiking trips.

We are sad to see these two positive spirits leave Audubon. Thankfully, Audubon attracts incredibly talented and passionate people. We are excited to announce our new education staff, Dana Vackar Strang and Jeremy Philipp (see page 9).

Over the past six months or so, we have relied on incredible part-time instructors who have really become our friends – Kim Henning and Rachel Gersh – as they teach the school groups who come to Audubon wanting to learn more about our natural world. Also, we greatly appreciate both Eileen’s and Jennifer’s assistance this spring as we transitioned to new full-time staff.

New Mexico Audubon Activist e-mail list
If you would like to be added to our growing New Mexico Audubon Activist e-mail list, please send a note to audubonnm@audubon.org. We’ll send out notices related to critical issues, decisions, and areas where you can take action.

Gila River Protected – For Now –
Thanks to a hard-working network of conservation groups—including American Rivers, The Gila Conservation Coalition, New Mexico’s first Audubon chapter: Southwestern New Mexico Audubon, and others— the life of the Gila River has been preserved and development staved off yet again.

The Gila is more than a river. One of the world’s longer desert rivers at 649 miles, the Gila reaches from Southwestern New Mexico to Yuma, Arizona, where it meets the Colorado River. Along its banks, southwestern sunlight filters through ragged cottonwood and billowing sycamore trees. The New Mexico headwaters support 250 species of birds, one of the most intact native fish communities in the region, and a long list of diverse wildlife that includes everything from the mountain lion to the threatened loach minnow, spike dace, and the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. New Mexico’s last free-flowing river is a source of life.

Controversial water development plans included dams, diversions, and the creation of a reservoir, any or all of which would have negative impacts on life in and around the river. Designs for development were inspired by the Arizona Water Settlement Act, which awarded New Mexico with $66 to $128 million in funds and the right to withhold 14,000 acre-feet of water annually from its Arizona neighbors.

The magnitude of proposals to “develop” the Gila River caught the attention of more than conservation groups. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson addressed the river’s need for protection in a press conference April 18, 2008, hosted at the Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe. The Governor formally recognized the Gila River’s listing in America’s Top 10 Most Endangered Rivers, as designated by American Rivers, giving it the undesirable distinction of being the most endangered river in New Mexico. Southwestern New Mexico Audubon’s conservation officer, Nancy Kaminski, says that Governor Richardson’s acknowledgment of the Gila River’s need for protection “inspires us to keep working,” validating conservation work that may at times seem futile. Indeed, efforts made by conservation groups combined with the Governor’s support have, at least presently, diminished the threat of water developments on the Gila River.

While conservationists oppose water development on the Gila, many other individuals and groups have argued in favor for the sake of meeting future water needs. According to the Gila Conservation Coalition, however, such developments are unnecessary at the time, and that the current and future water needs of residents in this sparsely populated region may be met without drastic alteration of the watershed. If water issues are to be properly addressed, federal money may be better used to purchase innovative irrigation systems rather than building a rapidly evaporating desert reservoir. Updated drip-irrigation systems would save farmers 30 to 50 percent of their current water use, thereby extending the viability of present water resources that include the Gila River and a large rechargeable aquifer beneath Grant County.

Given the alternatives, water developments that would destroy our last wild river and still fail to meet our needs do not appear to be the best or only answer to southwestern New Mexico’s water concerns. It is a complicated matter, demanding deep consideration and thoughtful action. The Gila River itself may guide us toward the answer we seek, urging us to listen to the quiet call of life.

A Gift to Audubon Will Bring You …
Your gifts support our efforts to monitor bird populations, conserve wetlands, and many other conservation programs. Your gift also brings you:

Membership in the local Audubon chapter and the National Audubon Society. Chapters offer opportunities to get involved in your community, learn more about your local environment, enjoy a birding trip, or volunteer to help make a difference.

Special invitations to Randall Davey Audubon Center events and discounts in our Nature Store.

Audubon, our award-winning magazine, with beautiful photography and provocative journalism.

Quarterly New Mexico newsletters

Activist email alerts. You can join our special activist campaigns at the state or national level and receive program updates and action alerts.

Travel opportunities through the National Audubon Society’s Nature Odysseys.

Discounts at our popular kids summer science camp at the Randall Davey Audubon Center.

Special offers on Audubon products such as calendars, note cards, field guides and nature books .

Help Preserve the Natural World!

Personnel
On May 1st, Jeremy Philipp joined us as Environmental Education Specialist. Jeremy comes to us from Kansas with many years of teaching experience in both the public and private school sector. Jeremy’s experience took him out of the classroom as well. He has worked for the Keystone Science School in Colorado as an Assistant Camp Director as well as a field instructor. Jeremy gained experience grant writing while working at a nature center outside of Topeka. Jeremy has a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado at Denver, and has been completing courses towards a MBA at Washburn University (which he says he plans to continue to work on through UNM ). Jeremy also has experience in outdoor leadership and currently has a Wilderness First Responder certification. He also speaks Spanish!

Dana Vackar Strang has been hard at work since starting with us on April 21st as Environmental Education Manager! Before starting at the Randall Davey Audubon Center, Dana was an Assistant Field Division Director (and previously the Education Coordinator) for the New Mexico State Land Office. She has experience as a manager and educator, with leadership skills and the knowledge necessary to lead, develop and implement statewide education programs emphasizing natural resource conservation and sustainability through hands-on, experiential activities. She is the former President and a current board member of the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico, the former Chair of the Youth Conservation Corps Commission, and is the statewide coordinator, facilitator and teacher trainer for the national curriculum, Leopold Education Project (LE P). Dana’s bachelor degree in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Issues is from Colorado College and her master’s in Parks and Recreation, with an emphasis in Environmental Education, is from the University of New Mexico. She has experience with and enjoys horses, hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, and mountain biking.

Anniversary
25th Anniversary Celebration and Open House at the Randall Davey Audubon Center is September 27, 2008. Please plan to join us in celebrating 25 years of environmental education and conservation at the center. Please check our Web site, nm.audubon.org, for information as the date approaches.