Birding at the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve

							                               Birding at the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve
Without a doubt, the best birding spot close to downtown Santa Fe is now the Nature Conservancy property called the
Santa Fe Canyon Preserve. Once the site of a reservoir, it has transformed over the last decade into the most extensive
section of cottonwood/willow/box elder bosque on the Santa Fe River. A lush riparian area, it is a vision of what is
possible in New Mexico in the absence of livestock grazing. It is also constantly changing. When first restored a decade
ago, large cottonwoods sprang up amazingly fast, and willows quickly overtook the walking trails that were established.
Beavers then moved in and felled most of the large trees, created a series of ponds and a meandering stream, and
continue to modify the landscape today. The result is a phenomenally productive preserve at the intersection of diverse
habitats used by wildlife and birds that is worth visiting in all seasons. It adjoins the Randall Davey Audubon Center,
known intimately by birders for thirty years.

To reach the preserve, take Alameda Rd. east from downtown Santa Fe. Turn left onto Upper Canyon Rd. and follow it
to Cerro Gordo Rd. Turn left, and then immediately go right into the parking lot. Points of interest and what to expect
are described below; stops are designated on the enclosed map.

P. Around the parking lot, look for Townsend's Solitaire, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bushtit, Mountain Chickadee, Black-
billed Magpie, and Juniper Titmouse. To the right of the trail junction is an inviting group of cottonwoods beside the
upper conveyance channel of the river, attractive to migrants. Return to the trail junction and follow the left hand fork
up a slight rise to the concrete remnants of the old spillway to look for Virginia's Warbler.

1. Sage Meadow. Earth from the deconstructed dam was piled here, and plant succession has given rise to a thriving
area of sage (e.g. Four-winged Saltbush, Chamisa, Big Sage, and others). This is a prime location for sparrows (White-
crowned, Lincoln's, Vesper, Chipping, Rufous-crowned, Spotted and Canyon Towhees, and Juncos -- Gray-headed, Pink-
sided, Oregon). It is also an opportune place to look skyward for hawks: Cooper's and Red-tailed in summer, Sharp-
shinned and Merlin in winter, Peregrine, Swainson's, and Osprey in migration, and Golden Eagle if you are lucky.
Bluebirds (Western, Mountain) and Band-tailed Pigeon may fly over too. Note the profusion of dragonflies and
butterflies.

2. Pond Overlook. A dammed pond remains filled year-round, and hosts an extensive area of cattails. You will find
migrant ducks, resident Coots, Pied-billed Grebe, swallows (Barn, Cliff, N. Rough-winged, Violet-green, Bank, and Tree),
White-throated Swift, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed and Common Grackle, Kingfisher. The shore
may hold a Spotted Sandpiper.

3. Marsh Overlook. A few feet away on a rock outcrop, you get a slightly better view up canyon. Listen for Virginia Rail
and Sora. Herons may be present, and warblers and flycatchers can be seen using perches below.

4. Beaver Ponds. This part of the preserve is the best birding spot in terms of diversity. The beavers are still actively
shaping the area, creating a series of evolving ponds containing snags used by many flycatchers. Some of the larger
trees have been fenced for protection, so a closed- canopy bosque persists on the right hand side. In migration and in
summer, you are likely to find warblers, flycatchers, woodpeckers (Hairy, Downy, Ladder-backed, Red-naped and
Williamson's Sapsucker, Red-shafted Flicker), Black-headed Grosbeak, hummingbirds (Black-chinned and Broad-tailed;
Rufous and Calliope Jul-Sep). In migration, arrive early to listen for vireos (Warbling, Plumbeous), Hermit Thrush,
Spotted Towhee, W. Tanager, Bullock's Oriole. The "large" flycatchers (Olive-sided, Black and Say's Phoebes, Ash-
throated Flycatcher, Cassin's and Western Kingbird) make use of the perches over the water and up the opposite slope,
while empidonax flycatchers may be seen in the bosque. Lazuli Bunting and House Wren are possible as well.
5. Upper pond. The canyon closes in at this point to shelter cottonwoods and impenetrable willows. Listen for
warblers. Black-capped Chickadee can be found here, with a few Mountains that descend from above. Ruby-crowned
Kinglet and many more species may be present in migration.

6. Old dam overlook. The trail climbs a bit and leads to benches beside the original 1881 stone dam that provided
water to a growing city. The trail elevation affords good views of migrant warblers: Wilson's, Audubon's, Orange-
crowned, Yellow, MacGillivray's. On the slopes above, you may spot a Black-throated Gray Warbler and Grace's Warbler
in one of the Ponderosa Pines or Pinyons. Carefully check the dense grove of willows beside the path beyond the dam.
As the view opens up, look for finches, including Cassin's Finch, Pine Siskin, Lesser and American Goldfinch, Evening
Grosbeak, and Red Crossbill.

7. Upper meadow. This open flat field is recovering more slowly than the rest of the preserve, possibly because of
compacted or highly disturbed soils. But there are abundant perches nearby to be checked for jays (W. Scrub, Pinyon,
Steller's), and Clark's Nutcracker. Nuthatches (White-breasted, Red-breasted, Pygmy) may be found, as well as Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher and pinyon-juniper birds. Townsend's Solitaire can be abundant in fall (when they frequently sing) and
winter.

8. River crossing. In summer, the willows can be very thick here, so look for passerines such as warblers, vireos, and
finches. Golden-crowned Kinglet and Cedar Waxwing may be present in winter. Lewis's Woodpecker occurs
occasionally. Green-tailed Towhees might be present in migration. Across the river, the trail winds through mature
Pinyon and One-seed and Rocky Mountain Juniper, which may hold a different selection of birds.

RDAC: The trail ascends to a dirt road leading to the Randall Davey Audubon Center. This is a good place to park if the
lower lot is full or closed. RDAC provides more birding opportunity on landscaped grounds. A hiking trail above the
buildings passes through mature Ponderosa Pine, where Pygmy Nuthatch, Grace's Warbler, Black-throated Gray
Warbler, Steller's Jay, and possibly Gray Flycatcher can be found. The trail then leads into Bear Canyon, with mixed
conifer habitat and mountains; Townsend's Warbler occurs in the fall and Wild Turkeys leave tracks in the snow.

The list of rarities found in the preserve is steadily growing. Hooded Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Eastern Phoebe,
Bohemian Waxwing, Broad-winged Hawk, Cassin's Vireo, and Caspian Tern have all been found. The most outrageous
find was a Green Violet-ear, just outside the preserve in November 2004.

You can get more information and a bird checklist at:
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newmexico/preserves/art9769.html
Please note that dogs are not allowed.


Bernard Foy, 2010

Thanks to Dawn Foy and Jonathan Batkin for contributions.