Red Canyon Spring Gathering
May 9 - May 11
Free
Near Magdalena, NM | May 9, 4 pm. – May 11, 11:30 a.m.
Calling all bird people and conservation lovers!
Join us for a weekend of camping, bird watching, and conservation volunteer work.
If you’ve been to Red Canyon Reserve, 320-acres in the eastern foothills of the San Mateo Mountains, you know it’s a special place for early morning canyon walks, meals around the fire, and deepening your connections with the great outdoors. Red Canyon Reserve is a living laboratory for community building and learning about rangeland health, Southwestern flora and fauna, and erosion prevention.
On Saturday morning, learn how to build Zeedyk rock structures! A Zeedyk rock structure is a low-cost, high-impact conservation practice that increases the hydraulic and ecological sustainability of a dryland area. Red Canyon Reserve is home to many Zeedyk structures, some of which were built by Bill Zeedyk himself over the years. Learn how to build your own Zeedyk structure while volunteering to keep Red Canyon Reserve a healthy habitat.
Then that evening, join in for a full moon bird walk through the canyon with Amy Erikson, avian biologist and conservation coordinator for the Rio Grande Land Trust. During a full moon, birds like the prairie falcons and Western screech-owls living in Red Canyon have increased energy. Bird watching can be especially exciting under a spring full moon—nighttime is a great time to catch birds migrating north for warm weather. Bring your binoculars and telescopes!
May 9: Arrival and potluck dinner
May 10: Volunteer work and full moon bird walk led by avian biologist, Amy Erikson
May 11: Morning plant ID walk
*Attendees are welcome to join all or some of this gathering. Please indicate in the registration form which days you plan to attend.
Questions? Contact Nina at education@quiviracoalition.org.