Description
Birds are perhaps one of the most inspiring and recognizable expressions linking past and present cultures. Not only are birds found in the archaeological record and in the form of rock imagery and murals, they are also embedded in modern ceremonies, songs, art, pottery, and daily life in Pueblo communities.
On a unique and memorable journey from Santa Fe, NM to Cortez, CO, refine your birding techniques while gaining insights into the cultural significance of birds from exceptional scholars. This introduction will enhance your understanding of birds and bird symbolism just in time for the Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Bird Festival in Cortez!
Highlights
- Enjoy small group sizes while visiting ancestral places, including the Chaco Archives, Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, and Mesa Verde National Park.
- Encounter and observe blue herons, eagles, hawks, towhees, robins, woodpeckers, and other migratory species as you birdwatch with expert guides.
Itinerary
Registration limited to 14 participants.Meals, lodging, and transportation provided.
*(B, L, D) indicates meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Itinerary subject to change.
Thursday, May 1: Arrivals | Opening Night
*Driving travelers meet at noon at Crow Canyon’s campus in Cortez to transport to Albuquerque via a Crow Canyon shuttle.
*Air travelers arrive in Albuquerque by 4:00 p.m.
Gather in the evening to meet the group. This first night will set the stage as we center our hearts and minds and prepare for our collective journey of learning. Overnight: Albuquerque, NM (D)
Friday, May 2: Carlito Springs Birding | Audubon Center | Center for New Mexico Archaeology
Start the day off with birding in the Tijeras Mountains at Carlito Springs, a hot spot for Albuquerque birders! After our morning birdwatching, we’ll journey along the Turquoise Trail to the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary and Center for New Mexico Archaeology in Santa Fe. Late afternoon we’ll stroll through the Plaza and stop at _Keshi_: The Zuni Connection, a co-op for Zuni arts and crafts. Overnight: Albuquerque, NM (B, L, D)
Saturday, May 3: Bosque | Chaco Archive at University of New Mexico
Birding at the Bosque—a set of trails at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park begins the day. In the afternoon, we visit the Hibben Center at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology where we learn about bird fauna and ancestral belongings from Chaco Canyon! Overnight: Albuquerque, NM (B, L, D)
Sunday, May 4: Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Get an early start as we head north through the painted badlands of northern New Mexico to Chaco Canyon National Historical Park. Spend the day in the ancestral homelands of Chaco Canyon connecting ancestral places and belongings through time and memory. Kate connects what we learned at the Hibben Center with what we see in Chaco Canyon, while Dan relays the ongoing cultural connections between Chaco and Zuni through architecture, art, songs, ceremonies. After dinner in Farmington, NM, we travel to Cortez, CO for the remainder of the trip. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Cortez, CO (B, L, D)
Monday, May 5: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument | Central Mesa Verde Region
We begin the day in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument with a guided bird-watching tour at Sand Canyon Pueblo—an extensive thirteenth century ancestral village. After a picnic lunch, we visit the Haynie site, where we discuss how faunal research (the study of animal remains to better understand human-environment interactions; also known as zooarchaeology) is shaping the way we understand these communities. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Cortez, CO (B, L, D)
Tuesday, May 6: Mesa Verde National Park
We tour Mesa Verde National Park, discussing the Far View sites and those located along the Mesa Top Loop. Additionally, we will hike and bird along the Soda Canyon Overlook trail (0.6 miles or 1.2-miles round trip) to give a sense of the landscape and access views of Cliff Palace. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Cortez, CO (B, L, D)
Wednesday, May 7: Departures and/or continue to the Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival (B)
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California CST 2059347-50
Is this program right for me?
WHAT TO EXPECTBirding Specific: This program will appeal to people new to bird watching as well as experienced birders. Each day we will have time devoted to bird watching. Spring in the American Southwest is an excellent time to view migrating birds. Albuquerque and Cortez will have different species viewing opportunities. We’ll have expert birding guides to lead some of our birding walks.
Travel during the trip: The entire trip takes place at elevations between 5,000 and 7,500 feet. This program involves van travel, light hiking, and museum visits. Some days will include van rides of up to three hours. The road into Chaco National Historical Park is 20 miles of rough washboard roads and may be impassable when wet. Some days van rides may last less than 30 minutes with multiple stops. Our pace will be leisurely and assistance will be provided as needed, but you must be comfortable hiking and standing for several hours at a time.
ACCOMMODATIONS
In Albuquerque, we will be located near Old Town. The trip ends at the Holiday Inn Express-Mesa Verde in Cortez, CO. Both hotels have swimming pools.
Single occupancy is defined as a room occupied by one individual. Shared occupancy is defined as a room occupied, and pre-arranged, by two persons.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How strenuous is the program? This program is designed to be as easy as possible yet still active. The walking portion of the trip will be strolling through natural areas watching for birds, and walking through museums and gravel paths in Chaco and Mesa Verde. Be prepared to be on your feet walking and standing for several hours at a time.
How long are the hikes on the trip? Less than three miles. Most hikes will be one mile long with stops along the route.
How much elevation gain do the hikes have? Most hikes will be on hilly terrain but no extreme, steep, or long hikes. Most will gain two hundred feet or less.
What time does the program start on the first day? The program officially begins at our Albuquerque, NM hotel at 6:00 p.m. **IMPORTANT NOTE**: Driving travelers will meet in Cortez, CO at the Crow Canyon Campus by noon. Crow Canyon staff will provide a shuttle to Albuquerque for the start of the program. The program ends in Cortez and this transfer allows you to have access to your vehicles at the conclusion of the program.
We will gather at 6:00 p.m. at the hotel on the first day of the program.
What time does the program end on the last day? There is no programming on Wednesday, May 7. This is reserved as a travel day.
What airports will transportation be provided from?
Arrivals on May 1: Albuquerque Sunport
Departures on May 7: Cortez and Durango Airports
Arrivals in Albuquerque: Crow Canyon provides transportation to the hotel in Albuquerque.
Departures in Cortez & Durango: Crow Canyon will provide transportation to Cortez and Durango airports at the conclusion of the trip.
Can I drive myself? No. People who drive to the program will meet in Cortez, CO at the Crow Canyon Campus by noon. Crow Canyon staff will transport drivers to Albuquerque for the start of the program. The program ends in Cortez, and this transfer allows you to have access to your vehicles at the conclusion of the program.
What if I have a dietary restriction? Please fill out your medical form and check with your Program Manager. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions to your satisfaction.
WHAT NEXT?
Register online or contact us at travel@crowcanyon.org. Prior to the program start date, we will provide trip details, a packing list, and forms for you to complete. Please direct specific questions and concerns to the Program Manager, David Boyle at dboyle@crowcanyon.org.
Crow Canyon is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, and contributions from supporters like you help fund our unique and important mission. Program tuitions cover only a portion of the cost to operate the Cultural Explorations travel programs. Generous donations support the remaining costs of designing highly customized programming such as this and enable us to provide scholarships for additional cultural advisors to attend the program and enhance the quality of your experience. DONATE HERE
