Recent Birds at Rio Bosque

Water deliveries to the park from the adjacent Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant ended 15 March.  The park's wetland cells are now largely dry, and only  a handful of ducks are present. 

A White-tailed Kite on 22 Feb was the first at the park since 15 Dec 2019.  It continued into mid-March.  On 21 Mar, a pair was present, hanging out together and chirping back and forth to one another in an area where kites have nested in the past.  Keep your fingers crossed.  The park's resident Harris's Hawks continue to be seen intermittently.  Look for them in the vicinity of the Tornillo Trailhead or on the powerline poles and powerlines across the Riverside Canal from the park. 

Summer residents are returning.  The first Swainson's Hawks for the year appeared 27 Mar; the first Western Kingbird, 28 Mar; the first Black-chinned Hummingbird, 29 Mar.. 

Burrowing Owls are being seen more frequently.  Check the artificial burrow structures located on earthen mounds scattered throughout the park. 

The first Sage Thrasher of the spring appeared 21 Mar. 

A male Northern Cardinal was across the Riverside Canal from the park on 9 Mar, the first reported in the area since last September.  It continues to be seen and heard in and near the park. 

You can download the current field checklist for the park here.

You can view recent Rio Bosque bird observations posted to eBird here.

Noteworthy birds seen at the park during the past month: