Page 73 - 2019 Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide

birDinG in las VeGas
Birding is a fast-growing outdoor activity. It’s been estimated that about 85 million Americans enjoy birdwatching, and about 18 mil- lion are serious enough to take trips and vacations exclusively for that purpose.
Las Vegas, NM is a prime but little-known destination for bird- watchers, and a great place to vacation.
Our avian abundance is no coincidence. Diversity of bird species is an indicator of ecological health, and the Las Vegas area abounds with “unspoiled wilder- ness.” The area is also with- in the Central Flyway, a migratory bird path that extends all the way into Central and South America.
A few miles east of town, the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge (LVNWR ) is home to a wide variety of
birds, some migratory water- fowl, others year-round residents. Over 270 bird species have been sighted here. The refuge encompasses several ecosystems, including tall-grass prairie, piñon-juniper woodlands, and numerous riparian
been opened to the public. Birders visiting the Sabinoso can help by documenting the variety of bird species in this rugged and unspoiled wilderness area.
Roughly 40 miles from Las Vegas, the Sabinoso has a great deal of habitat diversity, from forest to cliffs, canyon and riparian bottom- lands. Species already
sighted here include
the red-tailed hawk,
American kestrel,
western scrub-jay,
pine siskin, juniper
titmouse, mourning
dove, lesser gold-
finch, savannah
sparrow, chipping
sparrow, mountain
chickadee, Bewick’s
wren, broad-tailed
hummingbird,
white-breasted nut-
hatch, pinion jay,
Virginia warbler,
hairy woodpecker,
white-throated swift, gray flycatcher, bushtit, and turkey vulture.
The birding statistics in this article were obtained from the website and smartphone app ebird.org. Ebird lists over 30 area birdwatching destinations. Nearby sites listed by Ebird with over one hundred bird species observed include Storrie Lake, Gallinas Canyon, Villanueva State Park, Pecos National Historic Park, and, within city limits, the Gallinas Riverwalk and the New Mexico Highlands University Golf Course (it has a wetlands on site.)
Hummingbird
areas.
Red tailed hawk
American Kestrel
The LVNWR includes a vis- itor center and several nature trails. The Refuge staff hold reg- ular educational events, open to the public.
In the fall, visitors to the ref- uge may be lucky enough to see the dance of the sandhill cranes. The dances of these large, mi- gratory birds are both exuber- ant and elaborate, and may fea- ture bowing, jumping, running,
Las Vegas, then, is a phenomenal bird- watching destination, both for the dedicated birder and those who may wish to get out and view some wild- life while enjoying a relaxing vacation in a small, friendly, picturesque com- munity.
stick or grass-tossing and wing-flapping. Their dance is popularly referred to as a “mating dance,” but while important as a courtship ritual, it is also performed by cranes of all ages outside the breeding season. The behavior is believed to serve a number of other purposes including motor skill development, relief of tension and strengthen- ing the pair bond.
Slightly north of Las Vegas, the Ruby Ranch plays host to a vari- ety of migratory waterfowl, some as rare as Sabine’s gull and the red phalarope. A variety of raptors including the bald eagle can
Goldfinch
Hairy woodpecker
also be seen here.
Both the LVNWR and Ruby Ranch are on the Audobon So- ciety’s list of Important Bird Ar- eas.
The Sabinoso Wilderness is not (yet) on the list of Import- ant Bird Areas, but this may be because it has only recently
Sandhill cranes Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide 2019 | 73
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY