Google’s AI engine provides the following when queried about bird watching in the Sandia Mountains:
The Sandia Mountains, particularly Sandia Crest, are a popular destination for birdwatching, especially in the winter months. The area is renowned for attracting three species of rosy finches: Gray-crowned, Black, and Brown-capped. Birding hotspots include the Open Space Visitor Center, Sandia Crest, and trails along the Sandia Crest Scenic Highway.
Specific locations and highlights:
- Sandia Crest: The high point of the Sandia Mountains is known for rosy finches, particularly in the winter months.
- Sandia Crest Scenic Highway: This road offers access to various habitats and birding hotspots along the way, including Balsam Glade, Cienega Canyon, and Sulphur Canyon Picnic Area.
- Capulin Spring Picnic Area: A favorite spot on the way to Sandia Crest.
- Kiwanis Cabin via Crest Trail: A popular hiking trail that also offers birdwatching opportunities.
Birders come from all over the country to spot the three three types of rosy finches found on Sandia Crest. Be sure to check out FOSM Member Mark Aspelin’s step-by-step (and turn-by-turn) description of how to do so on his webpage “Birding Sandia Crest in Albuquerque’s East Mountains: Searching for rosy-finches, three-toed woodpeckers, and other alpine birds.” Mark also provides interesting details about the history of birding in the Sandias.
Mark states: The most popular birdwatching trails / areas that I’m aware of (and items in bold are also listed in the New Mexico Bird Finding Guide) include:
- Three Gun Spring Canyon
- Embudito Canyon
- Doc Long Picnic Area / Cienega Canyon
- Tree Spring Trail
- Sandia Crest
- Balsam Glade
- Sulphur Canyon Picnic Area
The City of Albuquerque website provides information about birding in the area including the following statement: Ken and Mary Lou Schneider, who served as coordinators of the Rosy Finch project at Sandia Crest for many years, have aptly named this remarkable phenomenon “Rosy Tourism.” As Ken wrote in Birder’s World Magazine, ”Many birders’ life lists have no marks in the checkboxes next to the three rosy finch species. These New Mexico birds’ breeding ranges are largely non-contiguous and often in hard-to-reach places. Finding all three species on their nesting grounds generally requires three separate journeys, some arduous mountain hiking, and a bit of luck.” Lots more details about birding in the Sandias can be found at Ken’s blog http://www.rosyfinch.com/sandia.html.
Audobon Magazine’s webpage Birding in New Mexico states: In breeding season, birds at Sandia Crest include Band-tailed Pigeon, White-throated Swift, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Steller’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Grace’s Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Red Crossbill, and Pine Siskin.
In fact, birders come to the Sandias from all over the world. The Europe-based website BIRDINGPLACES includes a Sandia Crest page.
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