Page 72 - 2019 Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY
naTional WilDlife refUGe
Las Vegas • Maxwell • Mora
The mission of the United States Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice is: “working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance, fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.”
Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge and Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area are three of the more than 560 national wildlife refuges in the United States. These three beautiful, rocky mountain, grassland refuges form the Northern New Mexico National Wildlife Refuge Com- plex.
Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 to provide wintering and migration habitat for ducks and geese of the Central flyway,
as well as other migratory bird species.
This 8,672 acre refuge is open seven days
a week to the public for wildlife observa-
tion and photography. While driving the
8 mile auto tour you may see many types
of wildlife depending on the season. In
the fall and winter months when you look
across the short grass prairie you may see
Sandhill Cranes and thousands of geese
feeding in the fields or ponds. During
spring and fall migration you may see the
majestic Bald Eagle roosting on a cotton-
wood snag at the Crane Lake Observa-
tion Deck or along the auto tour route. In
the summer months you may see a variety of raptors, elk, or hear the howl of a coyote. The Crane Lake Observation Deck is a great place to view elk in the early morning or early evening hours. Whatever the season you can always enjoy the Gallinas Nature Trail which begins near a crum- bling old rock homestead, drops down into a canyon and winds its way through Ponderosa pine and Juniper trees.
The refuge offers environmental education and inter- pretation programs to school groups and sponsors public events such as Fall Flight Festival Wildlife Drive, Con- cert for the Birds, and a variety of special presentations, in conjunction with the Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge. Stop by the Refuge Headquarters for more information, Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. The Melton Pond
overlook, located at the headquarters, is open during daylight hours. Visit the Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge website at http://flvnwr.org/ for an update of events or to become a member and invest time in a variety of projects designed to support and enhance your national treasure. Contact the refuge at 505-425-3581 for more information.
Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965. This 3,700 acre refuge is a living illustration of a variety of concepts in land use. Restoration of the short grass prairie lands for the black-tailed prairie dog, farm- ing for migratory birds, and management of invasive spe- cies are just a few examples of land management practic-
from March 1st through October 31st,. The Visitor Center is open Monday – Friday as staff is available. Contact the Refuge Manager to find out about the newest events or for volunteer opportunities at 575-375-2331 and follow our tweets at twitter.com/Maxwell for the latest wildlife observations.
New Mexico’s newest refuge, Rio Mora National Wild- life Refuge and Conservation Area, is a watershed level partnership effort in conjunction with a 4,224 acre Na- tional Wildlife Refuge. Located near Watrous, New Mex- ico this refuge meets several key objectives of the Ameri- cas Great Outdoors initiative to engage youth in outdoor education and recreation. Rio Mora NWR features en-
vironmental education programing serving hundreds of students and teachers. This partnership driven conservation area initia- tive allows the Service to provide technical support to interested landowners throughout the Rio Mora watershed. The Headquarters area contains the original homesteads of the first U.S. Senator of Mexican-American Her- itage and the second Hispanic governor of New Mexico. These unique buildings offer a quiet, comfortable place to create conversa- tions in conservation.
Wildlife is abundant within the varying ecosystems on refuge and within the con- servation area. There will be plenty of op-
portunities to see prairie falcons flying along the cliffs edge, bison grazing on the short grass prairie, or possibly, Gunnison prairie dogs popping out of their mounds on the ground. Five miles of the Mora River quietly mean- der through this vast canyon, adding a variety of native fish and amphibians to the extensive flora and fauna list. This splendid river aids the growth of Cotton and Coyote Willows furnishing habitat for the Willow Fly Catcher, as well as, supporting busy beavers working to shore up their dwellings.
Currently, the refuge is open for guided tours and orga- nized public activities. For the latest information on this new refuge contact the Northern New Mexico National Wildlife Refuge Complex at 505-425-3581.
Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge is a 501(C)3 organization with members committed to preserving and enhancing the refuge through aware- ness, appreciation, conservation, science and education. The group serves as a liaison between the Refuge and the public and contributes time, monies, materials, and services to support and complete projects and activities that address Refuge goals and objectives. Friends’ contributions assure that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and wonder of the Las Vegas NWR. In addition to supporting the Las Vegas NWR, they also support Maxwell NWR and Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area, other com- ponents of the Northern New Mexico NWR Complex.
Friends provide educational programming targeted for youth as well as
EvEnts CalEndar • FriEnds oF thE las vEgas national WildliFE rEFugE
Photo courtesy Katie Lopez
es adopted by this refuge. Eleven miles of refuge roads provide plenty of wildlife observation and photography opportunities. Located in the central flyway this refuge has recorded over 220 species of birds. When you’re driv- ing or hiking you may see Swainson’s hawks, Red tailed hawks, or Peregrine falcons dipping and diving over the prairie. Mule deer, White-tailed deer and Pronghorn an- telope will be grazing on the native short grasses through- out the refuge. Early fall is a great time to experience a whirl of migrating birds on the refuge. Whether you drive, walk or just sit and relax, Maxwell National Wild- life Refuge is an experience you will not soon forget.
The refuge is open year round to the public. Camping, fishing, and boating are permitted in designated areas
FRIENdS OF LAS vEGAS NATIONAL wILdLIFE REFUGE
adult programs designed to inform and stimulate thinking and action. It spon- sors monthly hikes and volunteer opportunities such as working with kids’ pro- grams in schools, cleaning a hiking trail or weeding the pollinator garden. Im- portant tasks include planning special events like the annual Concert for the Birds, the Fall Flight Festival, and the Las Vegas Electric Light Parade.
Visit us on Face Book www.facebook.com/FLVNWR or at the Friends of Las Vegas NWR website at http://flvnwr.org/ for an update of events or to become a member and invest time in a variety of projects designed to support and enhance all these national treasures. Contact the Refuge at 505-425- 3581 or Friends at 505-426- 5958 for more information.
FRIENDS OF LV WILDLIFE SCHEDULE
May June July August
September
October November
Saturday 11 Saturday 8 Saturday 13 Sunday 4 Saturday 10 Saturday 14 Sunday 29 Saturday 12 Sunday 2 Sunday 10 Sunday 20 Sunday 27
Rio Mora Hike
Rio Mora Hike
Rio Mora Hike Heritage Day Rio Mora Rio Mora Hike
Rio Mora Hike Concert for the Birds Rio Mora Hike
Fall Flight Festival Fall Flight Festival Fall Flight Festival Fall Flight Festival
72 | Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide 2019
Photo courtesy Andy Sanchez
Photo courtesy Vincent Marquez