April #conservationlands15 Bucketlist: Gila Lower Box Canyon WSA, New Mexico
<p>The Wilderness Study Area encompassing the Gila Lower Box Canyon is a true oasis in the desert in southwest New Mexico. A lush thicket of cottonwood, willows, and other riparian vegetation line the banks of the river. Wildflowers abound in wet years and include vibrant  fields of orange poppies that peak in March and April depending on the year. 
</p><p>The area provides some of the best birding in New Mexico.  Home to approximately 200 species, it has one of the highest bird diversities in the state.  The area provides habitat to many rare and unusual birds including Bell’s vireo, peregrine, bald eagle (in winter), golden eagle, black hawk, zone-tail hawk, Grey hawk, yellow-billed cuckoo, Gila wood pecker, and Abert’s towhee. 
</p><p>The river provides opportunities for canoeing or rafting during years of high spring runoff, but flows are normally better suited to tubing and to shore-based activities such as fishing for small mouth bass and several species of catfish.
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Photos by Mike Howard, BLM New Mexico
Mike Howard; <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/91981596@N06">Bureau  of Land Management</a>
2015-04-15 16:57
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mypubliclands/16973266110/">April #conservationlands15 Bucketlist: Gila Lower Box Canyon WSA, New Mexico</a>