NATURALIST JOURNEY
The Sky Islands mountains of New Mexico are off the beaten track, and as such largely unexplored by the casual traveler. Join Naturalist & Wildlife Biologist Vincent Pinto for 2 or 3 full days Private Program to discover and explore several remote and captivating Sky Island mountains and valleys in the bootheel of New Mexico.
During your Private Tour, Vincent will lead you and your group along scenic backcountry routes en route to numerous destinations with little civilization to distract us along the way!
Over the course of your Private Tour you will explore a wide range of native habitats, including: Riparian Forests, Chihuahuan Desert, Grasslands, Oak Woodland, and Chaparral.
The Sky Islands of New Mexico harbor a truly dazzling array of species that collectively constitute a world renowned biodiversity. Here the temperate and the tropical realms artfully meet, proffering a wide array of flora and fauna.
Within the U.S. our region hosts very unique Biodiversity:
- Most Bird species
- Most Sparrow species
- Most Hummingbird species
- Most Mammals
- Most Reptiles
- Most Snake species
- Most Lizard species
- Most Ants species
- Most Bees species
As the bootheel of New Mexico encompasses a significant wildlife corridor between the Sky Islands and the Sierra Madre of Mexico, it is a significant zone of intermixing between temperate and tropical flora and fauna. Given the exact locations we’ll be visiting, we’ll significantly increase our admittedly remote chances of spotting a Jaguar or Ocelot – rare tropical cats in Arizona. We will in fact explore the very canyon where the first photograph of a live Jaguar was taken in 1996!
Among the target species we’ll be searching for is the endangered White-sided Jackrabbit – a peculiar beast given that it is found only in one valley in the entire U.S. and because it is a slow-breeding Rabbit! These unique Lagomorphs share their valley with Pronghorn, the second-fastest land mammal on Earth, as well as Peregrine Falcons – the world’s swiftest bird species and a broad spectrum of other native species. Within the past calendar year nearby areas hosted a Jaguar, Elk from the White Mountains, and at least 1 Mexican Gray Wolf, attesting to the extreme importance of the area’s rich wildlife habitats.
Each day we’ll delve into the fascinating geology of the ranges we’ll encounter, while searching for and enjoying it’s unique wildlife and native plants. We may well encounter species as diverse as Sandhill Crane, Scaled Quail, Montezuma Quail, Gila Monster, Chiricahua Leopard Frog, early spring Butterflies, as well as other characteristic fauna that inhabit the wide range of plant communities we’ll be exploring. As an added bonus, we may be witness to stunning Wildflower blooms, if winter rains have been providential.
In addition to our ongoing wildlife safari, Vincent will teach you the uses of a number of local native plants, hearkening to a time when this ethnobotanical knowledge was crucial to everyday life. He will also point out any wildlife tracks and signs, memorable land features, and significant historic sites. We will also wander the wilds near where Geronimo finally surrendered, and Vincent will guide you through some of the ways and challenges of Apache life in the 1800’s.
Our Naturalist Saunters will be comprised of a series of short, easy, and slow-paced walks designed to maximize our chances of encountering wildlife. The total distance covered each day on foot will be 2 – 3 miles over terrain that varies from flat and easy to occasionally steep in short sections. Overall we rate the walks as moderate.
As the date of your Private Tour nears, we’ll keep you updated as to the latest forecasts. We’ll also send you a complete gear list once you’ve registered, insuring that you’ll be prepared for a wide range of meteorological conditions.
Guests choosing the 3rd-day option, will enjoy a more in-depth exploration of the region with greater chances of spotting rare wildlife. Side trips to other mountain ranges and valleys will augment your tour give you a more comprehensive experience of New Mexican Sky Islands.
