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Chirps and Cheeps: 8 New Mexico birding hotspots to check out for National Bird Watching Day

Sandia Crest

A Steller's Jay puffs his chest while perched on a branch atop of the Sandia Crest

Elizabeth Tucker Elizabeth Tucker Elizabeth Tucker Journal Staff Writer
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Celebrate National Bird Watching Day by going out to find some birds at one of these eight sites around New Mexico to see local species.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

This refuge consists of 30,000 acres of designated wilderness established to provide a stopover for migrating waterfowl. Migratory birds can be found in the greatest numbers from early November to late January.

LOCATION: San Antonio, New Mexico

Gila National Forest

The forest offers more than 100 bird species, ranging from ravens and hawks to hummingbirds and herons. The forest is also home to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, a complex of 15th-century Mogollon cliff dwellings and other prehistoric sites.

LOCATION: Silver City, New Mexico

Valles Caldera National Preserve

This preserve was named an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, meaning it is considered "vital to birds and other biodiversity," the preserve's website stated. The site hosts at least 40 species of conservation concern, in addition to a wide range of other wildlife.

LOCATION: Jemez Springs, New Mexico

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

This park is home to more than 130 species of birds and is the site of many ancient pueblos dating back from circa 2900 B.C. to the mid-1900s.

LOCATION: Farmington, New Mexico

Sandia Crest

In addition to bird viewing, the crest is known for its wildflowers, including the Sandia Mountain alumroot, a rare plant found only in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains.

LOCATION: Cedar Crest, New Mexico

Capulin Volcano National Monument

Species such as hawks, ravens, vultures, towhees and hummingbirds flock to this national monument. The prairie grassland around the volcano is a good place for birds of prey to hunt, and the woodland areas provide cover for smaller birds.

LOCATION: Capulin, New Mexico

Santa Fe Ski Basin

More than 130 different species of birds have been observed at the basin. It is also a good place to spot wild orchids such as calypso orchids, spotted coralroot orchids and rattlesnake orchids in its shady forests.

LOCATION: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

This refuge hosts four different biomes, including the Colorado Plateau Shrub Steppe, Great Plains Short Grass Prairie, Chihuahuan Desert and the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland. Birds here include hawks, sandpipers and a variety of sparrows to name a few.

LOCATION: San Acacia, New Mexico

Bird watching places in New Mexico

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

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Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
As they gather to roost, sandhill cranes wade through the water in one of the ponds at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge

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Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge
Snow geese and sandhill cranes fill the sky and fields in the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

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Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge attracts many bird watchers from the world but for professional wildlife photographers, this is the mecca of bird photography. Pictured is Mike Cohen who had a two camera set up to capture both up-close shots as well as wide angle scenes. Pcictured is the viewfinder on the back of a camera showing a coyote snagging a snow goose in the wetlands area. The photo was captured by Raybel Robles of Grand Cayman Island.

Capulin Volcano

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Capulin Volcano
The crater of Capulin Volcano.

The Gila National Forest

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The Gila National Forest
The Gila National Forest

Gila National Forest

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Gila National Forest
Cow elk graze along the road to Snow Lake in the Gila National Forest. A new report found a high portion of New Mexico’s elk hunting licenses are ending up in the hands of nonresident hunters.

Valles Caldera National Preserve

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Valles Caldera National Preserve
A hawk hunts over the trees burned by the Las Conchas Fire near the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains.

Valles Caldera National Preserve

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Valles Caldera National Preserve
A Swainson's hawk flies over the Valles Caldera National Preserve

Valles Caldera National Preserve

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Valles Caldera National Preserve
San Antonio Creek is a designated fishing area at Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

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Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park

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Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Pueblo Bonito at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

Sandia Crest

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Sandia Crest
A Steller's jay takes off from a pine tree at the top of the Sandia Mountains near the Sandia Crest's visitor center.

Sandia Crest

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Sandia Crest
A view of Albuquerque from atop Sandia Crest

Sandia Crest

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Sandia Crest
A Steller's Jay puffs his chest while perched on a branch atop of the Sandia Crest

Santa Fe Ski Basin

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Santa Fe Ski Basin
Aspen trees at the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

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Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
The moon sets over The Bear Mountains in the Cibola National Forest near the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

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Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Manager Jeannine Kimble and Refuge Manager Kathy Granillo do a little bird watching on the western side of the refuge.
gila national forest clickable chaco culture national historical park sevilleta national wildlife refuge capulin volcano national monument bosque del apache national wildlife refuge bird watching places in new mexico bird watching audubon society valles caldera national preserve sandia crest santa fe ski basin
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