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Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (FWS)
February 17, 2018 @ 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Contact Leader(s): Larry Benson, L.Benson@nmvfo.org with any questions.
RESULTS: Nineteen volunteers organized by the NMVFO as well as a crew of Americorps workers and some Sevilleta personnel finished planting more than 500 Goodding’s black willows and putting in place at least a hundred more saplings. As they grow, these willows will provide a good habitat for the endangered Southwestern Flycatcher and Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.
The Sevilleta NWR (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sevilleta/) protects a large area north of Socorro containing a great variety of terrain and vegetation. For a video tour, go to: https://www.facebook.com/SevilletaNWR/videos/1868508613167207/.
Volunteers for this project are invited to help restore riparian habitat along the Rio Grande—in an area not generally open to the general public—that has recently been cleared of invasive Tamarisk trees. We will be pole-planting willows and cottonwoods to create an environment favorable to native wildlife, especially the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. The NWR staff will have already bored holes using an auger and prepared the cuttings, so our main job will be inserting these small saplings and back-filling the holes with soil. Since this task needs to be done in the winter (before the growing season), please dress accordingly if the weather is chilly or precipitation is in the forecast. The area where we’ll be working may be muddy, so wearing sturdy water-resistant boots is advised. Also bring work gloves and a day pack with lunch, drinks, and snacks. Extra water will be available at the work site. The work should be completed by mid-afternoon depending on attendance.
Directions: Volunteers will need to convene at the Refuge’s Visitor Center at 8:30 AM for transportation to the work site. The Visitor Center is located 60 miles south of Albuquerque’s “Big-I” on Interstate 25. Take Exit 169 down a frontage road and make a sharp right turn at the first intersection. The Visitor Center is about 4/10 of a mile up this road. Volunteers from Albuquerque interested in carpooling can meet no later than 7:30 AM at the Bernalillo County Rail Runner Station. The parking lot is on Camino Del Tren, which branches north off Rio Bravo Blvd less than a mile west of I-25 at Exit 220. For more information or to sign up for this project, please contact Larry by February 16. Geolocation: https://goo.gl/maps/fKVrKMb3X962 (34°21’05.8″N, 106°52’56.8″W)