Palomas Marsh

by Bill Jacobson and Donna Wood

Palomas Marsh is a 40-acre livestock exclosure located south of Truth or Consequences. MVAS has agreed to survey the area and provide the BLM with a list of bird species sighted. In 2 Ω years, we have recorded over 100 different species. The list includes a number of warblers, marsh wrens, blackbirds, waterfowl, various raptors, and numerous other species. One of the more interesting is the Virginia Rail, which can sometimes be seen at the SE corner of the marsh.

Directions

Take I-25 north to Exit 71 (Las Palomas). At the top of the off ramp, turn right and go to boulevard stop (0.7 mi.) and turn left. Go 0.2 miles and turn right on gravel road. Go straight. After 0.8 miles you will cross a road. Bear slightly to your left and then back to the right to cross. You are there; the fenced exclosure is on your left.

Description

The exclosure includes two vastly different habitats. One is the typical mesquite shrub zone (dry) with the other being the marshy area; in addition, the interface between the two can be productive. You can enter the exclosure at the SE corner in the dry area and you can walk down to the marsh by going straight. You can then walk back up and through the drier habitat to the NE corner. The whole walk covers about Ω mile. An interesting sidelight is the emergence of young willows, cottonwoods, and grasses at the edge of the marsh.

There are two other nearby areas worth exploring. 1) A grove of cottonwood trees to the south of the exclosure. You can either walk or drive to this grove where a Cooper’s Hawk has been nesting. 2) A farm pond a few miles away. As you return to I-25, go under the interstate and continue for approximately 4 miles. The pond is on private property on the right-hand (north) side of the road. Viewing can be done from the side of the road. At times, the pond will be covered with a wide variety of waterfowl.

Reporting sightings

If you visit the exclosure, please record the different species you see and their numbers and give this information to Bill Jacobson (by mail: 2424 Sunridge Dr., Las Cruces, NM 88012; email: bfrog@zianet.com; or phone: 382-6877).