Bird-Watching
The Rio Grande Valley, one of the continent's major flyways, attracts many migratory bird species.
Open Space Visitor Center. Sandhill cranes make their winter home here, or stop for a snack en route to the Bosque del Apache, just south, in Socorro. Albuquerque is right in their flyway, and the Open Space center, which is replete with trails heading down to the shores of the Rio Grande, provides a most hospitable setting for them. The outdoor viewing station is complemented inside the visitor center with changing art exhibits and well-informed guides. 500 Coors Blvd. NW, West Side, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87120. 505/897–8831; www.cabq.gov/openspace.
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. Good bird-viewing locales include the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. 2901 Candelaria Rd. NW, North Valley, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87107. 505/344–7240; www.rgnc.org.
