Conservation Programs & Activities

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Great Old Broads Monitor Grazing in the Gila National Forest

The Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a national non-profit grassroots organization, led by women, that engages in and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. Our local group, the Aldo Silver City Broadband is active in many environmental issues in southwest New Mexico, including monitoring National Forest livestock grazing exclosures, areas that have been fenced to exclude cattle in order to protect fragile stream and riparian habitat. These areas provide valuable habitat for birds, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, many of which are threatened or endangered.

This past year, the Grazing Monitoring Committee has collaborated with the Gila National Forest office to provide monitoring of some of these exclosures, using maps of priority streams and a computer-based monitoring program provided by the Forest Service. The monitoring reports that result from on-site visits are uploaded into the Forest Service database to assist them in their management efforts. Of the four sites visited by committee members this Fall, 2020, cattle were present in two of the areas, the San Francisco River hot springs, and the Gila Bird Area. Livestock owners were contacted by the Forest Service and the cattle were removed. Committee members plan to keep an eye on both of these sites during the winter. Two of the areas had old evidence of cattle but no cattle were observed (Tularosa River near Walk in the Past petroglyphs and East Fork of the Gila River upstream of Grapevine Campground). Missions of environmentally focused non-profits can often overlap, and Southwestern New Mexico Audubon recognizes the value of acknowledging and partnering with others to increase positive synergistic effects on behalf of our natural environment. Find local contacts and information: www.greatoldbroads.org.

— By Denise Smith

Students Reach New Heights

From May to June, students from Aldo Leopold Charter School (ALCS) and Cobre High School assisted SWNMAS to study and monitor the Cliff Swallows nesting on the campus of Western New Mexico University (WNMU). The students are members of the NM Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). The goal of this study was to determine how many young are produced when their nests are left undisturbed.

Cliff Swallows are colonial birds, meaning they congregate in large groups. They overwinter in South America, arriving in our region in early April to nest, then leave with their new families in early August.

Three years ago, SWNM Audubon launched a campaign titled “Wilderness Starts Here.” The campaigns focus is to raise awareness of the benefits of wild things that live right here near our homes, businesses, and institutions such as WNMU. Over 400 young Cliff Swallows fledged from their campus nest sites in 2018 and 2019, and 2020 is likely to exceed those numbers. Carol Ann Fugagli, director of the study, said, “We are grateful for the cooperation of the University’s staff, which allowed us to put up nets and band some of the birds.”

“I’m excited to see if some of the birds we banded this year return to the same site next year,” exclaimed ALCS student Sylvia Myers. Another ALCS student, Molly Pendleton, stated, “This was the first time I had a chance to hold a live bird. They are much smaller and more delicate than I imagined!”

Javiel Garcia, a first-time YCC crew member from Cobre High School, said, “I can certainly say that I have a new appreciation for these birds after watching them for so many hours and days!”

SWNM Audubon welcomes volunteers to assist with swallow monitoring in future years. Please contact: cfugagli@gmail.com if interested.

Have you seen these birds?

Phainopepla

With its erect crest and the male’s shimmering black cloak, the Phainopepla’s name was inspired by the Greek word meaning “shining robe.” Many readers may not know that this species tends to work overtime, with studies indicating the likelihood of breeding twice a year in two distinct habitats.

This long-tailed silky flycatcher can be found perched upright on top of a palo verde or mesquite tree in the Sonoran Desert early in the year from February through April. In May, when the heat at lower elevations begins to intensify and the mistletoe berries there dwindle, the birds move up slope into woodland canyons of Arizona, California, and New Mexico, where they breed again through July.

The male is glossy black except for broad white patches under the wings that are obvious in flight. The female is gray with some wing patches. Both sexes have red eyes, an obvious crest and long slender tail. The bill is short and slender. They can be 6.3 to 7.9 inches long. In recent years, the local movements of this conspicuous bird are believed to be shifting.

Credit: crossleybooks.com

Bullock’s Oriole

This breeding bird of our riparian forests and Silver City’s shade trees has been declining in recent years, and we would like your assistance in documenting its abundance and distribution.

Male Bullock’s Orioles are larger and more colorful with orange and black plumage, a distinctive white wing patch and a black throat and eyeline. The females have more of a dull yellow coloration with gray-brown underparts.

Credit: crossleybooks.com

The Marian and Dale
Zimmerman Wildlife
Conservation Endowment

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Western Rivers Action Network

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The Gila River, New Mexico's last wild river, has been named one of the country’s most endangered by American Rivers. Healthy rivers are essential to our livelihoods and wildlife. Audubon New Mexico is working to improve river health and resiliency. We CAN help.

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