The pandemic remains a threat to our health: you should only attend Thursday Birders if you are fully vaccinated. Do not attend if you feel unwell, if you have recently been traveling and mixing with people who may be positive for Covid-19, or if you have been in touch with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 within the last two weeks. Please also remember to social distance on our birding walks, and feel free to wear a mask. We continue to caution you to avoid carpooling unless it is with people within your immediate and limited circle of friends and relatives. You should weigh your individual risk and comfort level at this uncertain time, and make your decisions accordingly.
General Information
Thursday Birders meet almost every Thursday in Albuquerque. You don’t need to let the leader know you will be attending – just show up at the meeting spot no later than the specified time. Although rare, any changes to the schedule will be posted here as needed. You are therefore encouraged to check this page before heading out in case of recent changes. For trips with limited numbers of vehicles or people, contact thursdaybirders@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
If you have any questions about the Thursday Birders trips, please contact thursdaybirders@gmail.com.
Checklists from past Thursday Birder trips can be viewed on our “Thursday Birder Checklist Archive” page.
For a short history of the Thursday Birders and species seen over the years, visit our “About Thursday Birders” page.
AUGUST 2022
August 4
Villanueva State Park – 6:50AM – 3PM
Meet at 6:50 a.m. far west end of Four Hills Village Shopping Center
GPS Coordinates – (35.068330, -106.500162)
Difficulty Level – 180 mile drive, short walks to bird on Pecos River and at state park
There will be space for six cars. Please arrange to carpool and email us at thursdaybirders@gmail.com by July 28 to reserve your spot
$5 entrance fee or state park pass.
Please bring a picnic lunch.
Leader – Barb Hussey
August 11
Corrales Bosque, Romero Road – 7:55AM – 11AM
Meet at 7:55AM in the parking lot north of Boxing Bear Brewery, 10200 Corrales Rd, Albuquerque, NM 87114.
GPS coordinates – (35.203801, -106.644975)
Carpool to Romero Road bosque access (arriving by 8:15AM), as there is limited parking at the trailhead.
Difficulty level – one and a half miles on flat trails – some uneven.
NO RESTROOMS.
Leader – Ginny Davis
August 18
Randall Davey Audubon Center, Santa Fe – 8:15AM – 3PM
Meet 8:15AM at south side of Sprouts parking lot, Far North Shopping Center
parking lot on the south side of Sprouts in the Far North Shopping Center to carpool to Santa Fe
GPS coordinates – (35.151614, -106.582275).
Difficulty Level – one mile – slight inclines, some uneven trails.
For those making their own way to the Audubon Center, please meet the group there at 9:30AM.
Please bring a picnic lunch.
Leader – Lefty Arnold
August 25
David Canyon/Mars Court – 7:55AM – 12 Noon
Meet at Sprouts at Sprouts at Four Hills Shopping Mall
GPS – (35.0666, -106.4991)
From I40@NM337 drive south approximately 8.5 miles; turn right (west) onto Raven Road and follow 1.6 miles; turn right (west) onto Mars Court to trailhead parking lot. Warning – Mars Court is short, but typically in very poor condition!
Difficulty Level – a challenging three mile walk on rocky trails (mixed juniper, pinyon, Ponderosa forest) down to David Canyon’s (open meadow with some shrubs and Ponderosa), returning up a steep dirt (potentially muddy) road to parking lot.
Since the trail down to David Canyon is narrow and the parking lot small, we are limiting the participants to six cars. Please arrange to carpool and email us at thursdaybirders@gmail.com by August 18 to reserve your spot.
Leaders – Tom and Sarah Peterson
SEPTEMBER 2022
September 1
Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center – 9:30AM– 11:30AM
https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/open-space-visitor-center
Meet in the center’s parking lot on the east side of Coors Boulevard.
GPS coordinates – (35.165311, -106.673068)
Difficulty Level – two miles on flat trails, some uneven and sandy.
Leader – Sara Jayne Cole
September 8
Otero Canyon – 8:25AM – 11:30AM
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cibola/recarea/?recid=64226
Due to limited parking at Otero Canyon, meet at 8AM at Sandia Ranger Station.
GPS coordinates – (35.074106, -106.384020)
Carpool to Otero Canyon 3.3 miles south on NM 337.
THE ONLY RESTROOMS ON THIS TRIP ARE AT THE RANGER STATION.
Leaders – Glenda Morling and Angela Hawthorne
September 15
Tijeras Arroyo – 8:20AM – 10:30AM
http://openspacealliance.org/where-is-open-space/sandia-foothills/tijeras-arroyo-open-space/
Meet at the edge of the East Tijeras Canyon Open Space.
GPS Coordinates – (35.052945, -106.508369)
From Central, head south on Juan Tabo to the “Y” where it splits from Elizabeth SE. Continue south over the arroyo. Take the first left onto Monarchos to the U turn at the edge of the Open Space to park.
Difficulty level, some slight inclines, sandy trails with shrubs and brush.
NO RESTROOMS.
Leader – Susan Hunter
September 22
Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area – 8:20AM – 12PM
https://www.valenciaswcd.org/whitfield-wildlife-conservation-area/
Meet at 8:20AM for an 8:30AM departure from the parking lot of Embassy Suites, 1000 Woodward Pl NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
GPS coordinates – (35.094668, -106.635956).
Proceed directly to Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area where we will have a talk about the area from Laura McCann, Environmental Education Program Manager, as well as be introduced to some raptors that Laura takes care of through a raptor rescue program. Laura will also share tips on how to ID raptors in the field.
Difficulty level – One and a half miles on flat trails, some uneven.
Leader – Laura McCann
September 29
Tingley Ponds and Bosque – 8:25AM – 11AM
Meet at the north end of the Tingley Beach parking lot.
GPS coordinates – (35.088596, -106.677003).
Difficulty Level – one and a half miles – flat with sandy trails.
Leader – Mary Raje
OCTOBER 2022
October 6
CANCELLED
October 13
Fourth of July Canyon – 8:50AM – 3PM
https://www.tripsavvy.com/fourth-of-july-canyon-near-albuquerque-57457
Meet at the Sprouts parking area of Four Hills Shopping Center
GPS Coordinates – (35.066927, -106.499012)
Secondary Meeting Place – Tijeras Senior Center – 9:15AM
GPS Coordinates – (35.079603, -106.391288)
Please note: ”High clearance vehicles recommended for 7 mi. rough road. US Forest Service parking fee is $7/vehicle or $3.50 with Federal Pass.
Difficulty level: 92 miles round trip with some driving and walking at the canyon.
Bring a picnic lunch
Leader – Barbara Hussey
October 20
Coyote del Malpais Golf Course, Grants – 6:50AM – 2PM
https://www.cityofgrants.net/coyote-del-malpais-golf-course
There will only be space for 15 people. Please email us at thursdaybirders@gmail.com by October 13th to reserve your spot and to let us know at which location you intend to join the trip.
Meet at 6:50AM for a 7:00AM departure from the southeast corner of the parking lot at Lowe’s Home Improvement on I-40 and 12th St NW.
GPS Coordinates – (35.111292, -106.647267)
Secondary Meeting Place and break / snack stop – 8AM – Sky City Travel Center Express – I-40, exit 89
GPS coordinates – (35.086117, -107.770001)
Bring picnic lunch or buy lunch in clubhouse.
Difficulty level – a 75 mile drive then three mile walk on mainly even turf.
Leader – Peter Neils and Sue Chavez
October 27
Michial Emery Trail – 8:55AM- 12 noon
Sandia Foothills Open Space – east on Spain at Tramway, then south on High Desert.
GPS coordinates – (35.146198, -106.482345)
Difficulty level – two and a half miles on medium to fairly steep incline
Leader – Bob Wilcox
NOVEMBER 2022
November 3
Los Poblanos Open Space – 8:55AM – 12 noon
Meet in trail parking lot off Montaño Rd
GPS coordinates – (35.143470, -106.659605)
Difficulty level – one and a half to two miles on flat, even trail.
Leaders – Maxine Schmidt, David Watkins and Angela Hawthorne
November 10
Valle De Oro – 8:55AM – 12 noon
Meet at the new visitor center, after parking in the visitor center parking lot. Note that the entrance to the refuge is south of the old entrance, and well-marked.
GPS Coordinates – (34.979651, -106.670435)
At 9AM Dakota Dominguez, park ranger and volunteer coordinator will present a 30 minute history and orientation to the refuge before our birding walk.
Difficulty level – 2.3 mile walk on flat, well-maintained, sand and gravel trails.Leaders – Mary Raje and Susan Chaudoir
November 17
Embudito Canyon – 9AM – 12 noon
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cibola/recarea/?recid=64560
Meet in the trailhead parking lot.
GPS coordinates – (35.136202, -106.481973)
To reach the canyon, drive east on Montgomery from Tramway, turn left on Glenwood Hills, continue 0.4 of a mile, turn right on Trailhead Road to parking lot.
Difficulty level – one and half miles – slight incline, some uneven ground.
Leader – TBA
November 24
Thanksgiving – No trip scheduled.
DECEMBER 2022
December 1
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge – 7:50AM – 3PM
Special Festival of Cranes trip: https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/festival/
There will be space for eight cars. If you’d like to go, please arrange to carpool and email us at thursdaybirders@gmail.com by November 23 to reserve your spot.
Meet at the South Valley Railrunner parking lot, Camino del Tren Ave.
GPS coordinates – (35.030140, -106.6568077)
Difficulty Level – 90 mile drive each way, plus driving and some short walks at Refuge.
Bring a picnic lunch.
Leader – Bob Wilcox
December 8
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park – 8:55AM – 12 Noon
GPS coordinates – (35.1295, -106.6820)
Meet at the wetland blind in the northeast corner of the Nature Center parking lot.
Note that a $3 parking fee, State Parks Pass, or Friends of the RGNC pass is required per car, and that the Visitor Center and restrooms open at 10AM.
Difficulty Level – one mile on flat, even trails.
Following a guided walk behind the Nature Center, we will hold our holiday get-together inside the RGNC Education Building. Please bring a donation of $3 towards cookies and a hot drink.
Leaders – Leah Henzler and Karen Herzenberg