Bernalillo County Open Space, Open Space Alliance and the Albuquerque geocache community invite residents and visitors to participate in the Burque Birding GeoFlight. The Burque Birding GeoFlight caches have a bird theme in celebration of Albuquerque’s highly esteemed designation as a 2014 featured city for the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds (UCTMB). Discover what makes Albuquerque a special place for birds, name the common birds and have fun geocaching at some of the County’s most scenic birding sites.
Limited, trackable bird coins are available for cachers who find at least nine out of the twelve geocaches on their GeoFlight (as validated by their completed series Passport). Refer to the below cache images (BBG PASSPORT pg 1, and BBG PASSPORT pg 2) to print and learn how to use your Passport, and to discover additional Burque Birding GeoFlight series information. Once series requirements are met, commemorative coins may be picked up at the City of Albuquerque Open Space Visitors Center (6500 Coors Blvd NW).
Revised CABQ Open Space Visitor Center Hours (as of 08 Jul 21):
Summer Hours (02 Mar - 31 Oct) --
Tue & Wed: 9:00am - 5:00pm; Thu - Sun: 8:30am - 7:00pm; Mon: closed
Winter Hours (01 Nov - 01 Mar) --
Tue - Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm; Sun & Mon: closed
Each cache contains a question card to assist you in filling out your Passport (inside, on lid). Additionally, each cache contains Bird Identification Cards for you to keep as a memento of your visit to the cache and each unique County birding location. Request each cacher take only one Bird Identification Card at each cache.
To learn more about the Bernalillo County Geocache programs and BernCo Bernie, click here.
Located east of Albuquerque in the Sandia Mountains, the 88-acre Ojito de San Antonio Open Space was purchased by Bernalillo County in 1999. Residents of the nearby historic village of San Antonio had encouraged its purchase to prevent residential development and to preserve an ancient acequia system that has provided life-giving water to residents, wildlife and flora since the 18th century.
The property is about 6,600 feet in elevation and located on the eastern side of the Sandia Mountain range, about one mile north of Tijeras and about 19 miles east of Albuquerque. Ojito de San Antonio is characterized by a grassy meadow surrounded by steep, piñon-juniper forested foothills and an ideal spot for wildlife viewing. The property includes a parking area, trailhead, and scenic trail 1 ¼ mile long. Due to prolonged drought, the springs have gone dry; however, groundwater still supports a lush riparian area. The property was listed as a birding hotspot by the Central New Mexico Audubon Chapter.
Walk along the road through the orchard about one quarter mile until you reach the second acequia crossing. Take a short walk along path near acequia.
CAUTION: Poison ivy is in the area of the cache. Beware “leaves of three”. Be respectful of the acequias. Do not litter, and keep dogs on a leash and out of the acequias. Even though they are currently dry, they are still maintained awaiting the time they will flow again.