Welcome to the website and conservation education platform for the Sangre de Cristo Audubon Society.
There are approximately 1,500 Audubon members representing Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Española, Taos, Las Vegas, and other communities in northern New Mexico.
We take our name from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost outpost of the Rocky Mountains in North America that forms a backdrop for our chapter area. These mountains, and the Rio Grande Valley that flows north to south through the area, provide diverse habitats for birds and other wildlife from the alpine tundra at the top of the mountains, forests of conifers and Aspen, Piñon-Juniper forests and savannahs, lush riparian areas along the Rio Grande and its tributaries, and portions of the short-grass prairie of the southern great plains.
The name of our website and our quarterly newsletter is the Mountain Chickadee, a common denizen of the forests of our area and a bird that was first described to western science by William Gambel in 1841, based on his observations near Santa Fe.
Our focus is on educational activities for adults aimed at fostering a culture of conservation in our communities. We sponsor field trips on a regular basis, evening programs, and offer the downloadable Mountain Chickadee with informative articles and news about conservation in our area. We also are active in advocating for birds and the environment, basing our positions on sound science and careful analysis.
Santa Fe, New Mexico is also the home of the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary, a scenic property at the end of Upper Canyon Road. The Center is owned by the National Audubon Society and serves as the headquarters for its New Mexico State Office. Along with a diverse network of nearby hiking trails, the Center also has a bookstore and gift shop and can be contacted at 505-983-4609. The State Office serves as a center for conservation and education throughout the state of New Mexico.