CITIZEN SCIENCE AT WORK THROUGH AUDUBONERS
Nine Open Space sites in the East Mountains are being surveyed by the CNMAS Thursday Birders led by Andrew Rominger.
The bird counts are part of the environmental/interpretive assessments of East Mountain Open Space (EMOS) conducted by Talking Talons and the Youth Conservation Corps. The data gathered from the Thursday Birders surveys will be presented in mid-September to the EMOS steering committee, representing Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Forest Service, National Parks and local residents, which will make decisions about site management, including public access, for the nine parcels of open space. Data from these counts will also be used to assess the sites for Important Bird Area designation based on species diversity and individual densities thus adding to the potential for conservation management and protection of bird species.
Open space-undeveloped land set aside for conservation and/or passive recreation-is managed to retain its natural character, conserve resources, provide opportunities for education and recreation and in some cases define the boundaries of the "built environment", according to the EMOS steering committee. Bernalillo County voters approved a property tax mill levy in 1998 whose proceeds were used to purchase 1,500 acres in the East Mountains, North Valley and South Valley. A second levy approved in 2000 is providing funds for management of the sites.
The East Mountain Open Space includes three sites near Cedro Peak on State Road 337: Sabino Canyon, Loma Ponderosa and Juan Tomas. Other sites are San Antonito and Ojito de San Antonio (formerly Los Manzanares), both on Highway 14; Tres Pistolas (Three Gun) and Carlito Springs, both in Tijeras Canyon; Gutierrez Canyon north of Interstate 40, and a site south of Golden.
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