Carlsbad Caverns NP High Elevation Breeding Bird Inventory

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, located in southeastern New Mexico, contains remote, rugged high-elevation areas. Prior to this study in 2003, there was little information available on the presence, distribution, and abundance of breeding birds in these high country areas. In this study, six sites in the western half of the park were visited twice between May and early July. Researchers recorded bird presence at point count transects at each site; a total of 1,524 individuals of 50 species were detected, with additional species recorded between survey points or on scouting trips. The study increased knowledge of nesting species in these rarely-visited areas of the park.