Note: this cache has been relocated following construction at the Refuge, in partnership with Refuge staff.
Burque Birding GeoFlight: #1 Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds (UCTMB)
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 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.
In 2012 Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge was officially designated as the Southwest's first urban national wildlife refuge. As you look southwest from the cache location, the refuge runs West to the Rio Grande River and south for one mile for a total of 570 acres. The refuge is currently a working farm, growing alfalfa and grasses for hay. The goal of the refuge is to provide a location for people to connect with and learn about the natural world and to provide valuable habitat for wildlife. Once restored, visitors to the refuge will be able to see waterfowl, small mammals and neotropical migrant birds, including the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. In the future the refuge will have a state of the art visitor center, trails, boardwalks, overlooks, bird blinds, indoor and outdoor classrooms and more.
If you would like to see the conceptual designs of the refuge and provide your input and ideas, please visit Valle de Oro's website at www.fws.gov/refuge/valle_de_oro. You can also follow Valle de Oro on Facebook to learn about what is happening at your national wildlife refuge.