Outings: Las Vegas

Birds of a Feather

With more than 270 species of birds
frequenting the grasslands, marshes, canyons, and streams that comprise the 8,672-acre Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, it’s no wonder that in-the-know bird watchers flock to its trails. “The Refuge is a great place for people to experience a large and diverse quantity of birds in a single location,” says Dana Strang, director of education for Audubon New Mexico.

On Sundays in November, the Fall Flight Festival trail opens to visitors. On the four-and-a-half-mile, self-guided drive through the refuge, you’ll have access to areas not normally open to visitors and be able to spot the abundance of geese and cranes present during the migratory season. The Sunday events also include interpretive talks on topics like raptor and waterfowl identification.

The refuge has more than 40 shallow wetlands on which the birds rest, but Crane Lake and Melton Pond are two of the most popular wetlands, so they belong on your itinerary. Each has observation outlooks with spotting scopes that can be used during daylight hours. The best times to bird watch are at dusk and dawn, when you can get a close-up of Northern harriers and cranes feeding off the land.

Though a perfect habitat for birds, Refuge manager Rob Larranaga says, “The Refuge is underutilized for the quality of wildlife observation that it offers.” But fewer visitors means more solitude for bird watchers seeking an alternative to the hubbub of more popular (and no less worthy) destinations like the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge outside Socorro.

Throughout the year, two half-mile-long trails wrap through canyons and cross grasslands, affording views of birds like red tail hawks, American kestrels, and bald eagles—all of which frequent the refuge.
On the Gallinas Nature Trail, keep your eyes open for wild turkey wandering amongst the juniper and piñon. Or take the eight-mile driving loop through the heart of the refuge to take in all of the wildlife here.—Lindsey Padilla

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge is located 10 miles south of Las Vegas off N.M. 281; (505) 425-3581; www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/lasvegas/index.html