Recent Birds at Rio Bosque
Water deliveries to the park from the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant resumed 5 May. These flows are starting to reflood the upstream part of the old river channel. The wetland cells continue to be largely dry.
The park's first-arriving summer resident was a Black-chinned Hummingbird on 28 March, followed by Swainson's Hawk on 5 April, Bell's Vireo on 13 April, Western Kingbird on 14 April, Yellow-breasted Chat on 16 April, Blue Grosbeak on 2 May, Painted Bunting on 11 May, and Mississippi Kite on 12 May.
The park's pair of White-tailed Kites has not been seen since 7 October 2025. A Cooper's Hawk pair currently has an active nest.
Burrowing Owls are currently using 2 sites in the northern portion of the park.
Northern Cardinals continue to be seen along the old river channel within 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.
| Species | Date | Number |
| Burrowing Owl | 13 May | 1 |
| Green Heron | 12 May | 1 |
| Mississippi Kite | 12 May | 1 |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | 12 May | 3 |
| Western Tanager | 12 May | 1 |
| Blue Grosbeak | 12 May | 1 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 11 May | 1 |
| Bell's Vireo | 11 May | 2 |
| Painted Bunting | 11 May | 1 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 10 May | 3 |
| Crissal Thrasher | 10 May | 1 |
| Black-necked Stilt | 9 May | 1 |
| Northern Cardinal | 9 May | 2 |
| Lesser Nighthawk | 8 May | 1 |
| Common Yellowthroat | 8 May | 1 |
| N. Rough-winged Swallow | 5 May | 1 |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | 30 Apr | 1 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 28 Apr | 1 |
| Lark Sparrow | 28 Apr | 6-8 |
| Monk Parakeet | 27 Apr | 1 |
| White-faced Ibis | 26 Apr | 100 |
| Western Screech-Owl | 19 Apr | 1 |
| Merlin | 16 Apr | 1 |
