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, or for any other questions you have, contact thursdaybirders@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Click here – Checklist Archive – for eBird Checklists from past Thursday Birder trips
Click here – About Us – for a history and more information on Thursday Birders
Click here – Recent Trips – to learn more about some of our recent trips
NOVEMBER 2023
November 2
Mariposa Basin Park – 8:30AM – 11AM ♿️ park trail
Meet at south end the parking lot of Mariposa Park, off Taylor Ranch Rd NW just north of Kachina St NW Mariposa Basin parking lot. The park has a pond and a natural, swampy area, in addition to trees and lawns.
Difficulty level – one mile on flat, even ground, with one short incline.
Leaders – Susan and Jim Hunter
November 9
Copper Trailhead Open Space – 9:00AM – 11:30AM
Hike the Copper Trailhead Open Space at the east end of Copper Avenue NE, east of Tramway Boulevard, in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Copper Trailhead Parking area. There is also parking along Copper. The one-mile walk winds uphill and downhill on disintegrating granite, so a walking stick might be helpful.
NO RESTROOMS
Leader – TBA
November 16
Los Poblanos Open Space – 8:55AM – 12 noon ♿️ trail
Meet in parking lot off Montaño Rd Los Poblanos Open Space parking location.
Difficulty level – one and a half to two miles on flat, even trail
Leaders – Deanna Nichols and Angela Hawthorne
November 23
THANKSGIVING – NO BIRD WALK
November 30
CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW
DECEMBER 2023
December 7
Festival of the Cranes/Bosque del Apache NWR – 7:50AM – 3PM ♿️ boardwalks
Special Festival of Cranes trip.
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 30th to reserve your spot.
Meet at South Valley Railrunner parking lot, Camino del Tren Ave South Valley Railrunner Station.
Difficulty Level – 90 mile drive each way, plus driving and some short walks at Refuge.
Bring a picnic lunch.
Leader – Bob Wilcox
December 14
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park – 8:55AM – 12 Noon ♿️ center trail
Holiday Event and bird walk
Meet at the wetland blind, northeast corner of the Nature Center parking lot Rio Grande Nature Center parking
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, holiday get-together inside RGNC Education Building. Please bring donation of $3 towards cookies and hot drink.
Leaders – George Perry and Ginny Davis
December 21
HOLIDAY SEASON – NO BIRD WALK
December 28
HOLIDAY SEASON – NO BIRD WALK
JANUARY 2024
Date: January 4, 2024 Tingley Beach Trails and Ponds
Departure Time: 9AM
Meeting Location: north parking lot, Tingley Drive SW, park north of fishing ponds, click here for map
Description: walk south along the riverside to ponds returning through bosque
Facilities: portable restroom at parking lot; restrooms by fishing ponds
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: 1-2 miles, flat, some narrow, sandy trails, partially ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: Mary Raje
Date: January 11, 2024 Oso Grande Park and Bear Canyon Arroyo
Departure Time: 9AM
Meeting Location: spillover parking lot at CNM Montoya campus, click here for parking lot location
Description: bird Oso Grande Park then east to Bear Canyon Arroyo
Facilities: no restrooms
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: two miles with park ♿ accessible; trail to and on Bear Canyon is sandy and uneven with medium incline to and within Bear Canyon and medium decline back
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: Glenda Morling
Date: January 18, 2024 Open Space Visitor Center
Departure Time: 9AM
Meeting Location: 6500 Coors Blvd NW, click here for Open Space Visitor Center parking
Description: walk around Visitor Center property, along bank to Sagebrush Church and back
Facilities: restrooms in Visitor Center – open at 9AM
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: flat, some sandy, uneven trails; partially ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: Deanna Nichols and Angela Hawthorne
Date: January 25, 2024 Los Poblanos Open Space and Fields
Departure Time: 9AM
Meeting Location: Los Poblanos Field Trails off Montano NW, click here for parking location
Description: walk along roads around fields to community gardens
Facilities: portable restroom at south parking lot and community garden
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: 1-2 miles, flat, on dirt roads and trails, mostly accessible ♿
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: Sara Jayne Cole
FEBRUARY 2024
Date: February 1, 2024 East Ella Drive, Corrales
Departure Time: 8:30AM
Meeting Location: due to limited parking at East Ella, meet at Boxing Bear Brewery, 10200 Corrales Rd to carpool, click here for parking location
Description: walk along ditches and through bosque
Facilities: no restrooms
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: two miles, flat, some uneven and sandy trails, with some ditch bank climbing necessary, partially ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leaders: Angela Hawthorne, Perrianne Houghton
Date: February 8, 2024 Pueblo Montano Trail
Departure Time: 9AM
Meeting Location: Pueblo Montano Picnic Area, click here for Pueblo Montano Picnic Area location
Description: walk south along large ditch bank, returning through bosque
Facilities: restroom at trailhead and more nearby at Sprouts Grocery
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: two miles, flat, some uneven sandy trails with some ditch bank climbing necessary, partially ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: Brian Anderson
Date: February 15, 2023 Alameda Bosque Trail (Alameda Open Space)
Departure Time: 9AM
Meeting Location: south side of Alameda just east of river, click here for Alameda Bosque Trails parking location
Description: walk along north valley ditches, through the park area and through bosque
Facilities: restrooms at parking lot
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: 1-2 miles, flat, some uneven, sandy trails, partially ♿
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: TBA
Date: February 22, 2024 Romero Road – Corrales
Departure Time: 8:30AM
Meeting Location: parking is limited on Romero Rd. Please meet at Boxing Bear Brewery 10200 Corrales Rd, click here for Boxing Bear location
Description: 1-2 miles flat, along ditches, ditch bank, and through bosque, some uneven, sandy trails
Facilities: no restrooms
Fees: no fee
Difficulty/Accessible: two miles, flat, some uneven sandy trails with a ditch bank climbing necessary, partially ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: Robert Munro
Date: February 29, 2024 Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
Departure Time: 9AM
Meeting Location: 2901 Candelaria Rd NW, northeast corner of parking lot click here for meeting location
Description: walk behind the Nature Center and in the bosque
Facilities: restrooms open at 10:00am
Fees: $3 parking fee, State Parks pass or Friends of the RGNC pass is required per car
Difficulty/Accessible: 1-2 miles, flat some narrow, uneven and sandy trails, partially ♿ accessible
Attendance Limit: none
Leader: Susan Hunter