New Mexico's Birding Hot Spots

December 2017 – February 2018 

Ohkay Owingeh Fishing Lakes (Birding Hot Spots of Santa Fe, Taos and Northern New Mexico)

The lakes will be closed from December – February. Unlike prior years, you can not park outside and walk in during this time.

October 2017

Ohkay Ohwingeh Fishing Lakes (Birding Hot Spots of Santa Fe, Taos and Northern New Mexico)

There is currently a $5 entrance fee for birding.

April 2017

Cochiti Lake (Birding Hot Spots of Santa Fe, Taos and Northern New Mexico – Chapter 8) now has a trail map.

December 2016

Sandia Crest (Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico)

During the winter, the Sandia Crest House will only be open on the weekends.

October 1, 2015

Valles Caldera National Preserve

The National Park Service assumed management of the preserve on Oct. 1, 2015 and access to areas which were more restricted at the time the book went to print, are now more accessible. The link to the website has changed.  For information on visiting the back country, please ready Judy Liddell’s blog post – Valles Caldera Now New Mexico’s Newest National Park Service Area. 

June 2015

San Diego Fishing Access Area (Birding Hot Spots of Santa Fe, Taos and Northern New Mexico)

This is one of locations mentioned in the description – Along Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway, Chapter 6. According to the Jemez Ranger District, this site is closed only to vehicle traffic. Birders can park outside, along the shoulder of the road and walk in. Please do not park in front of the gate.

March 2015

Bernardo (Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico) 

This site has been designated as a GAIN property by New Mexico Game and Fish (NMGF). A permit is required. For more information see NMGF website.

September 1, 2013

Sandia Crest House Reopens Under New Ownership:

The new owner of the Sandia Crest House is a local outdoor enthusiast who wants to enhance birding opportunities.

August 20, 2013

Capilla Peak now open:

The Manzano Mountains Hawk Watch conducted by HawkWatch International during September and October will have two observers and an interpreter on duty daily, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free public visitation to observe the migration of raptors going south for the winter is back up and running after several years of closure due to fire.  See hawks, falcons, and eagles up close before they are returned to the wild after banding.  Bring food, water, extra clothing, camera, and sunscreen.  Nearby Capilla Peak Campground is also open to the public.  To schedule a field trip, call Bobbie at 255-7622.  Please limit the size of your group to ten.   To print a brochure of the Manzano site, go to http://www.hawkwatch.org.  Information on all sites may be found in the menu under Conservation.

June 8, 2013

DROUGHT CLOSURES – Several sites will be closed until sufficient rain lessens the fire hazards:

Along the Rio Grande – Albuquerque and Corrales: Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center and Bosque Trails and Alameda Bosque and Open Space – The bosque will close 6/10/13; however, visitors can continue to use the paved bike trail.  Corrales Bosque – The bosque in Sandoval County is closed.

Sandia Foothills: Embudito Canyon and Open Space, Embudo Canyon and Open Space, Copper Trailhead Open Space and Three Gun Trail (Tres Piedras) and HawkWatch Trail – Both the Albuquerque Open Space and the USFS wilderness areas will close 6/10/13.

Sandia Mountains: All sites will close 6/10/13. The Crest House continues to be closed.

Manazanita and Manzano Mountains: Sandia Ranger District Visitor Center will stay open. Otero and Cedro Canyons and Tajique and Fourth of July Canyons will close 6/10/13. Capilla Peak and Manzano HawkWatch remains closed.

South of Albuquerque: Los Lunas River Park is closed. 

November 30, 2012

SANDIA CREST – The Crest House will be closed for the winter from Dec. 1, 2012 until March, 2013. The feeders have been relocated just south of the Crest House and New Mexico Bird Research will continue banding on Sundays. For updates, check http://sandia-crest-birding-forum.3149816.n2.nabble.com/Rosy-Finch-Observations-and-Banding-Reports-CURRENT-WINTER-2012-2013-f7572628.html

CAPULIN SPRING PICNIC AREA and The Log – are now closed for the season.

CAPILLA PEAK AND MANZANO HAWKWATCH 

HawkWatch International reports the hawkwatch at Capilla Peak in the Manzano Mountains has been underway since August 26, 2012; and as of last week, the Forest Service has partially lifted the restriction with respect to visitors at the site.  Field trips to the site may be scheduled on a few weekdays over the next few weeks until the season ends around Nov. 1.    We have been restricted to five visitors at a time; so it may be quicker to line up your own group and request a date to visit the site.  Reservations should be made with Bobbie (255-7622).   At a specific time a crew member will meet your group at the locked gate at New Canyon Campground on Forest Service Road 245 or in the parking lot at the church as you enter the town of Manzano.  You will then follow him or her up the road.  At the end of the visit, a crew member will escort everyone in the group back down the mountain.  The 2012 crew will be delighted to see visitors on the mountain again.   Restricting the number of vehicles on the upper road will allow it to settle, and you can help protect the roadbed, too, if you carpool.   Frontline Science is over; so weekends are available now.  After scheduling, it is advised to check on weather conditions at the peak as they can be different from in Albuquerque.  Shawn Hawks, Senior Monitoring Coordinator, for the Manzano hawkwatch site can be reached at (801) 484-6808.  He’s getting text messages from the crew so should know more about the conditions.