Birding the East Slopes of the Manzanita and Manzano Mountains
Southeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Birding the Sandias
 Rosy-finches of Sandia Crest
Cedar Crest Backyard Birds
Check List:
Birds of Sandia and Manzanita Mountains (PDF)
Get Acrobat Reader
Otero and Cedro Canyons Quarari Ruins National Monument & MAP Panoramic View of Otero Canyon   Panorama: East Slope of Sandia Mountains
Panorama: Sandia Crest in Winter
Otero Ridge
Breeding Bird Survey
Species Seen in
Past  6 Years: Quarai IMBD
Latest News on Military  Plans to Fence Certain Trails in Otero Canyon Hawk Watch Discovers  Flammulated Owl Migration in Manzanos Spring Birds of Quarai Ruins National Monument
Link to GPS Coordinates for Indicated Locations
 
Directions to
Sites Described here
   Guestbook 

OTERO CANYON: AN IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
By Hart R. Schwarz
CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW FOR PANORAMIC VIEW OF OTERO CANYON THAT SCROLLS IN YOUR BROWSER
Otero Canyon
WHAT IS AN IBA? It is part of a global network of places deemed important to breeding birds, either because they are rare or habitat-sensitive, or they congregate there in large numbers, especially during migration. Otero was selected as an IBA in 2001 and subsequently featured on Audubon's national web page, as well as an article in the Albuquerque Tribune by Ollie Reed on May 9, 2002. The deciding factor in bestowing IBA status on Otero was the abundance of the Black-throated Gray Warbler, which is the most common bird on this transect with a density probably unequaled elsewhere in NM. This beautiful neotropical warbler is a "priority" species, based on its vulnerability quotient.
WHERE IS OTERO & THE BREEDING BIRD SURVEY AREA? It is located in the Manzanita Mountains about four miles south of the sole traffic light in Tijeras, NM. My bird survey route extends along the western ridge of Otero for two miles and can be accessed from the Otero parking lot by walking south into the canyon for about half a mile and then turning west onto the Tunnel Spring Trail, which switchbacks up the ridge. At the junction with the Fire Break trail, turn west until you gain the ridge-top and then turn south, looking for the first transect marker on a pinyon to the left of the trail. After two pleasant miles through mature pinyon/juniper woodland, you should have encountered eleven marked "stops" where birds are counted during official surveys. All along this two-mile route, you will hear the buzzy song of the Black-throated Gray Warbler, almost without ceasing from late April through the end of June. Another priority bird on this trail is the little Gray Flycatcher, whose "syrup, syrup, sweet syrup" can be heard on the way up to the ridge and especially along the second mile of the transect. Shortly after reaching Number 11, turn left and follow a shallow wash down the slope to the bottom of Otero and then follow the canyon back to the parking lot for a round trip total of about six miles. Since the canyon bottom has copses of Ponderosa Pine and patches of Gambel Oak on the slopes, additional species will be encountered on the way out-- birds such as Grace's Warbler, Pygmy Nuthatch and Virginia's Warbler, the latter primarily associated with the oak.
CEDRO CANYON: Although Otero has the high priority birds, it is extremely dry, but that is not the case with Cedro Canyon, which is also a part of the IBA. Cedro is an attractive riparian area, with running water, quiet pools, willows and cottonwoods-all the ingredients that make for a highly diverse group of birds, which in summer includes Cordilleran Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Hepatic Tanager and Blue Grosbeak. Some years Indigo and Lazuli Buntings make a good showing. Access is the same as for Otero, except that the trail goes east and virtually runs parallel to Highway 337. The first mile or so is actually a Nature Trail with numbered locations that are explained in a brochure available at the nearby Tijeras Ranger Station.
CONSERVATION ISSUES: IBAs have become an important conservation tool since it is easier to manage a particular area identified as strategic for a particular suite of birds, rather than trying to manage everything in general. Once threats have been identified in an IBA, specific measures can be taken to assure the continued health of the target species and thereby the well-being of many associated species.  The Otero IBA seems relatively secure, but Audubon on its web site has this to say: "Currently managed by the Cibola National Forest on the Sandia Ranger District, there are no current major conservation concerns. Minor threats include the presence of some cowbirds and rock climbing on one cliff face within the area. Potential threats include increased firebreak activity, which may reduce the canopy in pinon-juniper woodland creating unsuitable conditions for Black-throated Gray Warbler, and an increase in outdoor enthusiast use, especially mountain bikers and hikers going off trail. The site is relatively secure from encroaching development and concurrent habitat fragmentation."

OTERO RIDGE (05-F) Breeding Bird Survey  IN THE MANZANITA MOUNTAINS

Conducted by Hart Schwarz on 6-8-2002. Also surveyed in June 1994 (Bill Maynard) & 6-5-1997 (Schwarz)

SPECIES STATUS 1994 1997 2002 RA
01. Turkey Vulture N
1
.33
02. Mourning Dove S 9 15 2 8.67
03. Black-chinned Hummingbird N
2
.67
04. Broad-tailed Hummingbird N 3 3
2.00
hummingbird, species N

2 .67
05. Northern Flicker R 1

.33
06. Western Wood-Pewee N 1

.33
07. Gray Flycatcher N 6 4 2 4.00
08. Ash-throated Flycatcher N 10 5 1 5.33
09. Plumbeous Vireo N 2 1
1.00
10. Stellers Jay R 6 1
2.33
11. Western Scrub-Jay R 2

.67
12. Pinyon Jay R 3 4
2.33
13. Clarks Nutcracker S
20
6.67
14. Common Raven R 9
2 3.67
15. Mountain Chickadee R 4 2 2 2.67
16. Juniper Titmouse R 4 8 8 6.67
17. Bushtit R

8 2.67
18. White-breasted Nuthatch R 8 2
3.33
19. Bewicks Wren S 1 3 4 2.67
20. Western Bluebird R 1

.33
21. Hermit Thrush S 4

1.33
22. American Robin R 1 4
1.67
23. Black-throated Gray Warbler N 17 25 12 18.00
24. Western Tanager N 1

.33
25. Spotted Towhee S 6 1 7 4.67
26. Chipping Sparrow N 4 8 8 6.67
27. Black-headed Grosbeak N 10 10
6.67
28. Brown-headed Cowbird S 2 7 1 3.33
29. House Finch R 1
1 .67
30. Red Crossbill R 20 4 1 8.33
31. Lesser Goldfinch S 1 2 2 1.67

KEY: Status refers to seasonal occurrence, i.e., birds are either neotropical (N), year-round resident (R), or short-distance/altitudinal migrants (S). Relative Abundance is the average or mean derived from the three survey years.

General Remarks: Melvin Shibuya, also of the Forest Service, accompanied me on this survey. Since there is no water in the Manzanitas and no apparent climatic mechanism to mitigate the full brunt of the drought, the birds suffered a dramatic decline in species and numbers, with Mourning Doves and Black-headed Grosbeaks especially hard hit in this particular area. Even stalwarts such as the Black-throated Gray Warbler and the Gray Flycatcher had their number sliced in half, but other typical P/J species, i.e, Juniper Titmouse, Bewicks Wren and Chipping Sparrow, seemed unaffected. Surprisingly, the Spotted Towhee bucked the general downward trend and showed an increase.

NOTE ON THE BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER: As in 1994 & 1997, this beautiful warbler still is the most common bird on the transect, apparently at home in the mature P/J woodlands that grace the ridges and slopes of the Manzanitas. Under less ideal conditions, their numbers would be far fewer. In 1997 one nest was found near Point 11. It was located 15 feet up in a very old, partially dead juniper that was 20 feet high. This nest, resembling that of the Gray Flycatcher with juniper bark strips on the outside, was nearly hidden in the only clump of green on an otherwise barren branch. Both parents, looking almost exactly alike, were engaged in feeding their young within the nest. These birds began nesting about a month after their arrival at Otero. The chronology would be as follows: 5-19-97 (start of incubation); 5-31-97 (hatch date); 6-10-97 (fledge date).

IMPORTANT BIRD AREA: On the strength of two PIF High Priority Species---the Black-throated Gray Warbler and the Gray Flycatcher---Otero Canyon and adjoining Cedro Canyon were declared an IBA in 2001.

Return to top of page

Quarai Bird List:

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY: MAY 08, 2004

Compiled by Hart R. Schwarz

 

The composite list below represents all the birds seen on one day in mid-May during seven successive years at Quarai, the site of the IMBD celebration sponsored by the Cibola National Forest & Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.

 

SPECIES   

98

99

00

01

02

03

04

SPECIES

98

99

00

01

02

03

04

01. Turkey Vulture

2

2

2

4

4

5

2

49. Townsend’s Solitaire

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

02. Mallard

2

2

1

2

 

2

2

50. Hermit Thrush

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

03. Cooper’s Hawk

 

1

1

1

3

1

2

51. American Robin

8

4

8

1

 

2

 

04. Red-tailed Hawk

 

2

2

 

 

 

 

52. Northern Mockingbird

4

2

5

4

15

3

1

05. American Kestrel

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

53. Cedar Waxwing

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

06. Virginia Rail

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

54. Blue-winged Warbler

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

07. Killdeer

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

55. Orange-crowned Warbler

 

2

5

 

5

6

4

08. Spotted Sandpiper

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

56. Virginia’s Warbler

2

2

1

1

 

4

2

09. Band-tailed Pigeon

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

57. Yellow Warbler

4

2

4

3

3

7

3

10. White-winged Dove

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

58. Chestnut-sided Warbler

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

11. Mourning Dove

7

12

8

6

10

8

12

59. Yellow-rumped Warbler

24

13

3

2

10

6

4

12. Great Horned Owl

2

2

2

1

2

1

2

60. Black-thr. Gray Warbler

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. White-throated Swift

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

61. Black-and-white Warbler

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

14. Black-chin. Hummingbird

5

3

1

2

1

 

5

62. American Redstart

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

15. Broad-tailed Hummingbird

5

2

1

2

4

2

2

63. Northern Waterthrush

 

 

1

 

1

1

 

16. Lewis’s Woodpecker

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

64. MacGillivray’s Warbler

2

1

4

 

7

6

3

17. Ladder-back. Woodpecker

2

2

2

2

1

1

4

65. Common Yellowthroat

 

4

1

 

4

3

3

18. Northern Flicker

4

6

5

2

 

 

 

66. Hooded Warbler

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

19. Olive-sided Flycatcher

1

2

2

2

1

 

 

67. Wilson’s Warbler

10

12

15

 

15

3

6

20. Western Wood-Pewee

 

1

5

7

3

2

2

68. Yellow-breasted Chat

4

4

8

7

8

4

6

21. Willow Flycatcher

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

69. Summer Tanager

 

 

1

 

2

 

 

22. Dusky Flycatcher

 

3

3

 

7

 

1

70. Western Tanager

3

1

6

4

3

5

4

23. Gray Flycatcher

 

 

1

 

1

 

 

71. Green-tailed Towhee

 

3

1

 

2

2

2

      Empidonax, species

1

 

 

 

 

2

 

72. Spotted Towhee

10

8

8

10

3

8

6

24. Black Phoebe

 

1

1

 

 

1

 

73. Canyon Towhee

1

2

 

1

2

1

3

25. Say’s Phoebe

1

2

3

3

3

5

4

74. Chipping Sparrow

5

12

1

4

5

15

2

26. Ash-throated Flycatcher

2

4

3

4

4

1

2

75. Brewer’s Sparrow

 

 

4

 

7

4

 

27. Cassin’s Kingbird

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

76. Black-chinned Sparrow

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

28. Plumbeous Vireo

2

1

1

 

3

3

1

77. Vesper Sparrow

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

29. Warbling Vireo

 

 

3

1

3

 

2

78. Lark Sparrow

 

5

1

 

2

2

1

30. Western Scrub-Jay

3

4

5

5

4

7

5

79. Song Sparrow

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

31. Pinyon Jay

 

5

6

2

1

4

2

80. Lincoln’s Sparrow

 

 

2

 

1

 

 

32. American Crow

1

 

1

 

 

 

2

81. White-crowned Sparrow

7

8

6

6

8

12

10

33. Common Raven

2

3

4

2

2

4

2

82. Golden-crowned Sparrow

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

34. Violet-green Swallow

30

25

25

25

30

30

40

83. Dark-eyed (G-h) Junco

 

 

 

 

1

1

 

35. N. Rough-winged Swallow

 

1

1

 

1

 

 

84. Black-headed Grosbeak

5

6

2

4

4

5

4

36. Barn Swallow

6

6

6

1

4

4

4

85. Blue Grosbeak

 

1

 

4

4

3

4

37. Cliff Swallow

 

5

1

1

6

4

2

86. Lazuli Bunting

 

 

1

1

 

 

 

38. Mountain Chickadee

 

 

2

 

 

2

 

87. Indigo Bunting

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

39. Juniper Titmouse

3

3

3

2

3

1

4

88. Red-winged Blackbird

 

4

 

 

2

 

1

40. Bushtit

 

 

2

1

1

6

1

89. Western Meadowlark

2

3

 

2

2

 

2

41. White-breasted Nuthatch

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

90. Brown-headed Cowbird

2

2

4

4

1

1

3

42. Rock Wren

3

3

2

2

 

 

2

91. Bullock’s Oriole

1

3

2

5

2

2

3

43. Bewick’s Wren

3

4

2

1

2

4

3

92. Scott’s Oriole

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

44. House Wren

2

1

3

 

8

8

2

93. House Finch

7

6

6

8

20

12

12

45. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

1

 

1

1

1

1

 

94. Pine Siskin

 

12

2

 

1

 

 

46. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

 

1

 

2

2

2

 

95. Lesser Goldfinch

1

 

 

 

2

1

1

47. Western Bluebird

2

4

2

3

 

 

 

96. American Goldfinch

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

48. Mountain Bluebird

2

1

 

2

1

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YEAR

SPECIES

INDIVIDUALS

YEAR

SPECIES

INDIVIDUALS

5-08-2004

55

246

 

 

 

5-10-2003

56

235

5-13-2000

67

222

5-11-2002

66

266

5-08-1999

64

246

5-12-2001

47

161

5-09-1998

48

202

 

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY: MAY 10, 2003

By Hart R. Schwarz, Neotropical Bird Specialist for the Cibola National Forest

BACKGROUND: This special day for celebrating the birds was inaugurated by Partners in Flight in 1992 as a way to highlight its mission and that of its nearly 200 Partners, i.e., THE CONSERVATION OF BIRDS AND THEIR HABITAT. The second Saturday in May was chosen because peak migration offers the best opportunities to bring people and birds together—to sow the seeds of wonder and caring. IMBD is also the day of the Spring Migration Count, but the two events are not at all synonymous, the latter being just one activity option for that day.

ORGANIZERS AND PARTICPANTS: For the sixth consecutive year, the Cibola National Forest and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (National Park Service) have cooperated in staging this day-long event, replete with a three-hour morning bird walk led by Hart Schwarz and Nick Vaughn, an afternoon lecture on the theme of the day by Hart Schwarz, and shade-grown coffee and cookie refreshments all day long for the approximately eighty celebrants.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF IMBD, 2003: While we did not experience being swept up in a dizzying maelstrom of migrants as last year, we, nevertheless enjoyed a wide variety of birds—56 species in all. Most of what we did see were the expected species and not the rarities that sometimes drop in on a good migration day. But what passes for normal at Quarai, would be extraordinary in most other places—like the nine species of warblers we saw, or the dozens of Violet-green Swallows gliding gracefully above our heads or attending to their nests within the church walls. One of the few surprises was a Black-chinned Sparrow found by Nick Vaughn, who had been birding indefatigably since dawn, and even during my lecture, so that no species would be left behind, or uncounted. This beautiful little sparrow is not unusual in its preferred habitat in desert canyons, but is not often seen in migration outside its normal haunts.

Of course, IMBD is not all about birding and socializing—there is also THE MESSAGE, which is the marrow of this event and embodied by a fresh theme and poster each year. This year’s theme was: Birds as Calalysts for Conservation, which I took as my text for the afternoon’s talk, illustrated with the Cibola’s interactive bird migration display and a goshawk video. The Northern Goshawk, a sensitive species for the Forest Service serves as a quintessential poster bird for habitat improvements that benefit not only the goshawk, but also a host of other associated species. After the talk and the considerable animated discussions that followed it, it was time to distribute to everyone our famous individualized “Conservation Certificate,” so beautifully designed by Norma Pineda of the Park Service. As a show of appreciation to the fifteen or so people that finished the day with us, we surprised them with a multitude of IMBD designer gifts: T-shirts, sweat shirts, caps, coffee mugs, posters, and even some shade-grown coffee.
Return to top of page

CLICK for More Information about INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY


DIRECTIONS TO AREAS DESCRIBED ABOVE

By Ken Schneider

Otero and Cedro Canyons

CLICK HERE FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF OTERO CANYON

Otero and Cedro Canyons are adjacent to each other, in the Manzanita Mountains.  There is enough territory here to warrant a couple of trips.  We especially like a leisurely walk to and through Cedro Canyon, which is particulary rich in birds and other wildlife.  Any season can be productive, but spring and fall are best.  There are many shady places to just sit and enjoy the breeding birds of summer.  It is not wheelchair-accessible. Kirtland Air Force Base controls the territory deep into Cedro Canyon and is constructing security fences along the perimeter of its "military withdrawal."  This does not appreciably affect Cedro Canyon and should not disrupt any of the birding areas within 1-2 miles of NM-337.  However, the eight foot tall fence topped with barbed wire will present a formidable barrier to the movement of wildlife and is cause for concern.  For latest information on the military closure, link here to SAVE OTERO CANYON http://www.saveotero.org/index.php

From Albuquerque
:  Drive east on I-40 to Exit 175 (Tijeras).  Stay right on exit ramp and continue south to the traffic light.  You will pass the Sandia Ranger District Office on the left, where we reccomend that you stop and obtain a map of the Cibola National Forest (Sandia Ranger District).  Continue south on NM-337 approximately 4.5 miles to the parking lot at the Otero Canyon trailhead (Trail #56), on the right side of the road.  Before you get to the Otero Canyon parking area you will pass the Tunnel Canyon parking area, also on the right,  approximately 3 miles from the traffic light.  NM-337 then passes through a deep cut and the Otero Canyon parking area will appear just after a fairly sharp curve to the left (east).  The trails in Cedro and Tunnel Canyons are very popular with mountain bikers, who proclaim it a world class biking area, so be on the lookout for them.  Park in the lot (do not leave valuables in the car).

Walk directly down the hill, at which point you have three choices.  

(1)
We like to first take a brief walk to the right (west), on the abandoned road surface of the highway that wound through before the present roadway was cut. In good years there is a small wetland on the left of the road.  This spot can be good for migrating and resident flycatchers , warblers, tanagers, vireos (notably Plumbeous Vireo) and orioles.  A Cooper's Hawk may nest in this area.

or (2) The second choice is to veer down the next hill to the left, and bird the immediate area, which usually has a stream and even a small marsh.  This area is good for Black-throated Gray Warbler.  Then, either continue following Trail #56 straight south into Otero Canyon (the trail follows the arroyo which is usually dry).  To find the Gray Flycatcher, continue into Otero Canyon about 1/4 mile and turn to the right (northwest) on the trail that leads to Tunnel Canyon.  Go upslope only until you see a trail that veers to the left along Otero Ridge (the Gray Flycatcher may be found in this area in late spring and early summer) -- it will connect with Trail #56 in about 1 1/2 miles to make a loop.

or (3) take an immediate sharp left and follow the unmarked trail to Cedro Canyon.  This trail goes back north up the hill, descends and courses south east, roughly parallel to NM-337.  For  about a mile the trail follows a creek and enters a lovely marsh.  
National Audubon Society Description of Otero and Cedro Canyons


Quarai Ruins, a unit of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

By Ken Schneider

Quarai, one of the three ruins on the Salt Mission Trail is a great attraction and worth the trip if only to visit the beautiful ruins.  There is a visitors center and handicap-accessible trails.  It boasts a very reliable creek and wetland area with surrounding mature cottonwoods.  Heavy pruning necessitated by an ice storm a couple of years ago has removed many of the dead stubs that attracted hordes of cavity-nesting birds and most of the mistletoe that enticed Phainopepla to stay and possibly nest.   While the latter birds seem not to have returned, there is a richness that is associated with the availability of water in an arid region.  The ruins themselves attract breeding Rock Wrens, Violet-green Swallows. Say's Phoebes and a resident pair of Great Horned Owls.  Spring and fall migration can be very productive-- water-thrushes and sometimes eastern specialties may appear.  Orioles, warblers, tanagers and Lazuli Buntings nest there.  It is the site of an annual International Migratory Bird Day gathering, in early May.  

To reach Quarai, you follow NM-337 south past Otero Canyon (above) to join NM-55 south, about 29 miles south of I-40 at Tijeras.  Follow NM-55 about 18 miles, past the entrance to the trail to Capilla Peak, the Manzano Mountain autumn Hawkwatch site, at the town of Manzano (about 2 miles before Quarai, also site of Manzano Mountains State Park & Campground, worth a visit as well).  The entrance to Quarai road will be on the right (west) towards the Manzano Mountains.   The distance from Exit 175 to Quarai is about 53 miles on paved two lane secondary roads, but may take about an hour and a half to drive as it passes through several quaint villages.  

Quarai Photos

Quarai Ruins Virtual Tour

Manzano Mountain Wilderness Area & MAP

This page describes birding locations along NM 337 (also known as "South NM 14").    
Contributions of information welcomed-- Contact Ken and Mary Lou Schneider