Hummingbirds and Bluebirds in the Manzano Mountains

“We take this all for granted,” Bills Simms asserted as he gestured to his ranch and the multitude of feeders behind the house. Twenty-nine Thursday Birders were gathered under the portal, anxious to receive an update on his bluebird boxes. His ranch is located 5.5 miles south of Chilili in the Manzano Mountains.
Out [...]

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Birding the Crest Road in New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains

The parking area adjacent to the Sandia Ranger Station in Tijeras looked bleak with a lot of the trees trimmed severely back and the undergrowth cleared out. It was understandable that aggressive clearing took place, given the prolonged drought and the devastation caused by the fires this spring further south in the Manzano Mountains. [...]

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Birding Box and Water Canyons – New Mexico

The falling trill of the Canyon Wren echos against the narrow canyon walls and greets the Thursday Birders as we begin to explore the area west of Socorro known as The Box. We search the red, rocky cliffs, but never locate him.
Our attention is diverted by the chittering of White-throated Swifts. [...]

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Hiking and Birding the Santa Monica Mountains

“Be careful,” BJ said quietly, yet with a sense of urgency. He pointed to the ground at the point where the trail headed from the parking lot into the chaparral. A long snake was slithering out of the shrubs along the trail. Our eyes quickly scanned its head and tail. The head [...]

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