Sevilleta NWR--Unit B

Tips for Birding

This is an area-specific hotspot within Sevilleta NWR. It is located south of Sevilleta Unit A and north of the Rio Salado, bounded on the east by the Rio Grande River and on the west by the BNSF railroad tracks. Observations at other locations around the Refuge should not be reported for Unit B.

To reach Unit B, come off I-25 at exit 169, drive south, east, then south again into La Joya Wildlife Management Area (WMA), crossing the railroad tracks east of the La Joya South End Walking Trail trailhead. At that point, you have a choice of driving south on the east or the west side of Drain Unit 7, though signage there directs you to use the east side. Be aware that the narrow dirt roads on each side are two-way. After wet weather, muddy stretches along the east side may force you up onto the levee between the Rio Grande and the drain road.

Traveling south down the west side of the Drain through the rest of the WMA and then NWR Unit A, when you see the next opportunity to cross over the Drain (a railroad culvert will be on the west), do so; you pass in front of the two locked gates on the east side of the drain, and it is a few yards back north to a parking area with hunt blind and birding trail signage. If there is no "Vehicles Prohibited" signage, it may be possible in dry weather to take a high-clearance vehicle to the south end of Unit B, at the Rio Salado fence, by driving on the west side of the Drain; however, turning around there is difficult without actually going to the east side, where vehicles are always prohibited. 

If you’ve come south on the east side of the Drain, the hunt blind signage will be directly ahead, a reforested area to the left, and the birding trail signage a bit to the west. Unless signed otherwise, you can drive another half mile south, with the Rio Grande on your left, but again turning around at the end of the road can be challenging. That road comprises the easternmost segment of two north-south-oriented oval birding loops of about a mile and a half each. The loops share a middle trail, which always seems to be the most productive segment for birders, as it is located between a marsh (where Green Heron are known to nest) on the west and woods with varying canopy height as well as dense brushy understory (favored by Rio Grande Turkey) on the east. Depending on whether you come in the morning or the evening, you will be looking into the sun for birds on one side of each of the three lengthy segments of the bird loops, but Unit B is worth revisiting at different times of the day. 

Your best views of the Rio Grande, and any waterfowl that may be near there, are at the south end of the birding loops. If the river is high, water spills into low areas, creating shallow lagoons attracting sandpipers and other wading birds. Riparian bosque vegetation tends to cottonwood, Russian olive, and Gooding’s (Black) willow as the upper canopy, with coyote willow, New Mexico olive, and other shrubs for the understory. Near the river, the USFWS has done significant clearing of tamarisk, replacing the invasive exotic with native cottonwood and willow. A wide swath of tamarisk remains on the east side of the river (from where you may hear Willow Flycatcher call in May), as well as south of the birding trails west of the river, transitioning to desert vegetation such as four-wing saltbush and mesquite as you move upward toward the Drain.

Some final tips...

  • Although better than in Unit A, Unit B's mobile phone reception is weak.
  • Observe all signage, particularly regarding vehicle usage and parking.
  • Do not disturb cameras or other equipment you may encounter, as this area is intensively monitored by researchers.
  • If hiking in the summer, hydrate beforehand, carry adequate water, protect yourself from the sun, and be mindful of rattlesnakes.  
  • In late spring or early fall, insect repellent will make your birding safer and more comfortable.
  • After recent rains, call the Refuge to find out whether wetland unit roads are passable.
  • Know which areas are open to hunting and when. The State WMA, which you must drive through to get to the Refuge wetland units, is closed to birding from September 1 to March 14. Refuge Units A and B are typically open for dove beginning in September, and then for waterfowl in October, with some seasons lasting through January 1. The two units are generally open 3 mornings per week;  birding the westernmost trail on one of those mornings is inadvisable. If planning a trip during fall or early winter, examine the Refuge website’s hunting pageif phoning for clarification, do so well in advance as it could require your leaving a message and receiving a return call. USFWS personnel will have information about hunting on the Refuge, but should not be expected to have information about hunting at the WMA.

Birds of Interest

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, threatened throughout the western US, has been recorded June-August.
Bell’s Vireo, a threatened species in New Mexico, has been observed May-September.
Phainopepla (appearing May-August).

Birders should be prepared for the differentiation challenge presented by Mallard and Mexican Duck, both observed here.

About Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

See all hotspots at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System in the lower 48 states.

The 230,000-acre refuge includes four different biomes that intersect and support a wide array of biological diversity. The Rio Grande flows through the center of the refuge and is an important source of water that creates an oasis for wildlife in the arid landscape. Scientists from across the country and internationally come here to conduct research in these amazing ecosystems. The refuge is unique in that it was set aside “to preserve and enhance the integrity and the natural character of the ecosystems of the property by creating a wildlife refuge managed as nearly as possible in its natural state.” Thus the refuge is not managed for specific wildlife species but to allow natural processes such as flood and fire to prevail.

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is unique because four different kinds of biomes intersect on the refuge, including the Colorado Plateau Shrub Steppe, Great Plains Short Grass Prairie, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland.

A biome is a regional ecosystem with distinct types of vegetation, animals, and microbes that have developed under specific soil and climatic conditions. The result: an area with a remarkable array of plant and animal life.

The Colorado Plateau is a large geological slice of western North America and reaches its southeastern limit on Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. The Colorado Plateau Shrub Steppe is one of the many biomes found within the Colorado Plateau and is a sparse, windswept environment; not quite desert, but definitely not the forest. The sagebrush, saltbush, and grasses of the shrub-steppe thrive in conditions where few plants can survive and support many different wildlife species.

The Great Plains Short Grass Prairie has wide open spaces, sunshine, and acres of nutritious grasses and flowering plants – exactly what animals of the grassland need. The Gunnison’s prairie dog is one of the main architects of the prairie. They create elaborate underground burrows with long tunnels for hiding, nesting, and escaping extreme heat or cold. Within the grassland, many ground-dwelling animals find shelter in the network of tunnels and burrows built by prairie dogs and also kangaroo rats.

The Chihuahuan Desert appears forbidding to humans, but this dramatic landscape is home to an amazing array of life. Creosote bushes interspersed with yuccas, grasses, and cactus give this desert its characteristic appearance.

The Pinyon-Juniper Woodland supports two main tree species: pinyon pine and one-seed juniper. Both tree species provide high-quality food for wildlife throughout the year in the form of juniper berries and pinyon seeds. This biome shelters and supports some of the area’s larger wildlife such as black bear and mountain lion.

In addition, the Rio Grande flows through the center of the refuge creating an oasis along the river that plays a vital role within these mixed ecosystems. Because the environments are so diverse, they attract and support a wide diversity of native species, including 251 species of birds, 80 species of mammals, 58 species of reptiles, 15 species of amphibians, and more than 1,200 species of plants.

The more commonly seen wildlife on the refuge includes mule deer, coyotes, pronghorns, snakes, lizards, and many different types of birds.

Notable Trails

The Refuge website, updated in early 2022, has excellent maps available on its trails page (a submenu selection under “Visit Us”). Clicking on the “View Trails” button takes you to a map of your selected trail with each trail section’s length given. Unit A and Unit B trails are very briefly described together on the trails page under the heading “Wetland Units”, but first-time visitors should be aware that the statement there that the road surfaces are paved is not true.

Features

  • Roadside viewing

  • Restrooms on site

  • Entrance fee

Content from Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Official Website, John Montgomery, and John Montgomery

Last updated January 15, 2024