Chihuahuan Wildlife Heart Bar Riparian Area

A GORP Content Partner Adapted from New Mexico Wildlife Viewing Guide by Jane S. MacCarter

Among the most common of rails, the secretive sora frequents marshes with dense vegetation. Its call is a musical descending 'whinny.'

Viewing Information: Spring through fall at Little Creek Pond, look for black-headed grosbeak, yellow-breasted chat, solitary vireo, painted redstart, mallard, common merganser, rail species, sora, various warblers, also beaver and muskrat. A great blue heron rookery is visible directly across from the Heart Bar ranch house, in pine trees along the south side of highway. Occasional migrating bald eagles in winter, and ospreys spring and fall. Sporadic year-round viewing of bobcat, gray fox, wild turkey, and coyote at dawn/dusk; rare sightings of mountain lion. The common black hawk has been sighted here. Watch for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep on hillsides above river. The narrowhead garter snake is common.

Directions: Take New Mexico Highway 15 north of Silver City about 30 miles. Look for the tiny settlement of Gila Hot Springs, and start counting mileage from the Gila Hot Springs Store. Continue 1.3 miles north of the store to sign for Little Creek. Just past sign, pull off road on right and look for a trail encircling the pond. Another 1.5 miles north along NM 15 look for a dirt track to the right, just beyond mile marker 41; the track is flanked by wooden poles on each side.

Closest Town: Gila Hot Springs

Ownership: New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish, (505) 827-7911

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