Join PEEC this Saturday, Feb. 16 for a birding outing to the Lower Pueblo Canyon Wetlands. Song Sparrow photo by Mouser Williams.
PEEC NEWS
Join the Pajarito Environmental Education Center this Saturday, Feb. 16 for a bird walk to the Lower Pueblo Canyon Wetlands. This trip is part of PEEC’s new series of monthly birding outings and both experienced birders and those who are simply curious or just starting out are welcome. Participants should meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Los Alamos Nature Center.
Jeff and Cheryl Heikoop will lead Saturday’s walk. Participants will travel about four miles round-trip with no significant vertical elevation gain. The target location is just downstream from the Los Alamos Water Treatment Plant and is an unusual habitat for the area. As such, there have been unusual birds found there like the Virginia Rail, Song Sparrow and Marsh Wren. The hike begins with a 1.5-mile flat walk along a dirt road through Piñon-Juniper habitat and at the west end of the wetlands there is a stand of Ponderosa Pine, so there should be opportunities to see a wide array of bird species on this outing.
Participants should expect to spend the full morning on this trip and come prepared for the weather with good hiking shoes and water. Bring binoculars if you have them. Anyone planning to attend this trip should email Mouser Williams at mouser@mouser.org to register. Please indicate if you need binoculars, as PEEC has several pairs to lend. This outing is free to attend.
For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email programs@peecnature.org or call (505) 662-0460.
PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts a number of interest groups from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit www.peecnature.org.