Year ago (many, many years ago) Cliff Stogner led a group to locate Lesser
Prairie Chickens. Clarice and I were assigned a 'lek' behind an oil field pump
jack some 15 miles north of Plains TX.
We were in position well before dawn, waiting in our car. It made a great
blind, and had a supply of coffee and snacks.
The Lesser Prairie Chickens showed up on cue. They performed their ritual
booming dance. It was a sight to see. I think that was before digital cameras
were invented.
New Mexico State law keeps the location of privately owned leks in the
Milnesand preserve area confidential.
A search will turn up several articles about it.
Floyd Robertson
Lubbock TX
----- Original Message -----
From: Jennifer Miller <foundnatureblog@xxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <leasbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <aznmbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: 3/22/2018 3:59:26 PM
Subject: [leasbirds] Eastern NM - Roosevelt Co.
I decided to get up early today and go birding in Roosevelt Co., NM. I was
specifically looking for Lesser Prairie Chickens. I have not birded here
before, so it was all new and I took a stab in the dark about where to look. I
was trying to find the Milnesand Prairie Chicken Preserve area, but I
don't think I was successful. I never saw a sign of any kind, although I am
still uncertain about whether the Preserve is in one specific location or a
collection of private land throughout eastern NM.
While I did not find any Prairie Chickens, I did enjoy the area and see great
birds. I started on TX Co. Rd 2182 and took it to NM Co. Rd. 262 towards Bluit
and Milnesand. At Milensand, I turned north onto NM Co. Rd. 206. I had not
heard of Blackhills Prairie Chicken Area before, but came across at least 3
entrances. While there are no gates at any of the entrances, a sign at one
entrance states that the area is only open to activity between June 30 and Feb
15, so I did not enter. I did see a Roadrunner from one of the entrances though
:) After that, I turned onto S. Roosevelt Rd. 33 and birded just the first 1/4
mile or so. Back on NM Co. Rd. 206, I turned east onto NM Co. Rd. 438 right
after Pep. At the end of NM Co. Rd. 438 I headed south on NM Co. Rd 114 towards
Lingo and then back into TX, still on Co. Rd. 114. Below is a list of the birds
that I saw. All except the Ferruginous Hawk were in NM.
Bobwhite (about 10)
Scaled Quail (2)
Loggerhead Shrikes (3)
American Kestrels (at least 5)
White-Crowned Sparrows (at least 25)
Cactus Wrens (2 singing)
SWAINSON'S
HAWKS! (2) - ebird flagged them as rare. I assume they are early.
Greater Roadrunner
Barn Swallows (4)
Rock Wren (doing its "knee bends")
Northern Harrier (Several females/juveniles and 1 male)
Lark Buntings (2 flocks)
Vesper Sparrow (1 singing)
Killdeer (heard)
Red-tailed Hawk
Meadowlarks (everywhere. Only heard Eastern singing)
Common Raven
Raven sp. (several)
Mourning Doves
Ferruginous Hawk (Light morph in flight when I was back in TX)
I also saw several Mule deer and 3 Springbok.
In case anyone else would like to know, I have Verizon and did not have signal
the entire trip (at least until I was pretty close to Lubbock again).
--
Jennifer Miller
Lubbock, TX
{o,o}
/)_)
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