The Southwestern New Mexico Audubon Society serves communities in four counties;
Silver City, Deming, Lordsburg, Glenwood, Cliff, Reserve, the Mimbres Valley, and the Gila National Forest.
Monthly Programs, Field Trips, Annual Bird Counts, Education, Conservation, Regional Habitat,
and Audubon Membership
Christmas Bird Count Compiler Needed
The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for Silver City needs a new compiler. If no one steps up to take over, the Silver City CBC will be cancelled after a 62-year history. The CBC can be held anytime between Dec 14 and Jan 5. The compiler sets the date and assigns the count routes, which are well established areas within a 15-mile diameter circle centered on the golf course. Previous participants are available for their usual routes. The CBC results are tabulated by the compiler and submitted to National Audubon Society by Feb. 15th. Abundant resources are available for the compiler at Audubon.org/christmas-bird-count-compiler-resources#06. New Mexico CBC state coordinator, Christopher Rustay, is an invaluable resource.
White-breasted Nuthatch by Errol Taskin
What is Feeder Watch?
Join Project FeederWatch for its upcoming November to April 2020 season and have fun watching birds while you help us stay on top of long-term population numbers in a November-April survey of birds at backyard feeders, nature centers, community areas, and more.
FeederWatch includes people of all skill levels and backgrounds, including children, families, individuals, classrooms, retired persons, youth groups and bird clubs. Count birds as often as weekly, or as infrequently as you like. All you need is a bird feeder, bird bath, or plantings that attract birds.
Project FeederWatch is supported almost entirely by its participants. The annual fee is $18 for U.S. residents ($15 for Cornell Lab members) → Feederwatch.org/join-or-renew.
Diana Ingalls-Leyba talks to the art students about color theory as they discuss the colors of the climate stripes in the border of the mural.
Pollinator Mural Underway
The painting of a pollinator mural by Mimbres Region Arts Council Youth Mural Program has begun on the Texas Street side of the Silver City Trading Company in downtown Silver City. The mural theme is “Plants, Pollinators and Climate Change.” SWNMA proposed the project, and along with several sponsors, provided the funding.
The Aldo Leopold High School art class, taught by Alison Phillips, conceived the design. Sponsoring organizations met with students on August 28 to give input on the theme. Original photographs by Elroy Limmer are being used for inspiration and design. Mimbreño designs are also incorporated to bridge past with present. The mural border consists of colorful blue to red stripes depicting changes in global temperature over the last 100 years. Notable quotes about climate change will also be added.
In addition to SWNMA, mural sponsors include Town and Country Garden Club, National Audubon Society’s Coleman and Susan Burke Center for Native Plants, Gila Native Plant Society, SWNMA member Linda Gerritson, Grant County Archaeological Society, and the Grant County Beekeepers.
Dedication of the mural is planned for Oct. 26 at 1:00. Support from National Audubon is a highly competitive grant that SWNMA received - we were awarded $4500 to help fund the mural and have a native plant giveaway, similar to the plant giveaway for Earth Day 2018. Over 250 trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses will be given out to the general public at the dedication.
