While Black-chinned Hummingbird is common April through August, Broad-tailed is typically here only April and May. Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay is most likely to be found on campus during the winter. Whereas American Crow is reported mid-fall through spring, Common Raven is observed throughout the year and Chihuahuan Raven February and March. April into June, the presence of 4 swallow species may challenge birders:  Violet-green, Northern Rough-winged, Barn, and Cliff.  Winter and spring, Phainopepla is quite common throughout the year. Evening Grosbeak has been sparsely reported during winter. Listings of Yellow-headed Blackbird have been confined to September and October.

Turtle Bay is a locally known birding spot that is not labeled or signed. It occupies several ponds located on the northwest corner of the New Mexico Tech Campus. Specifically, it is located at the eastern edge of the golf course at the northwest corner of Olive Lane and Canyon Drive.

At the northern edge of Socorro on California Street (US-60), located about 0.3 miles south of the on-ramp for I-25, go west onto Bullock Boulevard. Continue west on Bullock for 0.8 miles until the road bends to the south (left). At this point, the name of the road changes to Olive Lane. Continue another 400m around the curve and look for Macey Hall to the west (right). Park in one of the two parking lots on the west side of the road and walk to the ponds on the west side of Macey Hall.

Migration, especially during the spring, seems to bring many good vagrants to these trees surrounding the ponds. Each year, it seems several eastern warblers turn up in the trees that surround these ponds.

The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) is located in Socorro and has a picturesque campus with a blend of modern facilities and southwestern charm. Spread across approximately 320 acres, the campus is characterized by its adobe-style architecture and scenic landscapes, surrounded by the desert mountains of the Rio Grande Valley. The campus features state-of-the-art academic buildings, laboratories, and research centers, catering to a strong focus on science, engineering, and technology disciplines. Students have access to well-equipped facilities, including the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the Magdalena Ridge Observatory, and the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center. The campus also includes student housing, recreational facilities, and green spaces, fostering a vibrant and inclusive community. The unique blend of academic excellence and a serene Southwestern setting makes the New Mexico Tech campus a distinctive and conducive environment for learning and research.

Socorro is located 75 miles south of Albuquerque, at an average elevation of 4,605 feet. The town lies adjacent to the Rio Grande in a landscape dominated by the Rio Grande rift and numerous extinct volcanoes. The immediate region encompasses approximately 6,000 feet of vertical relief between the Rio Grande and the Magdalena Mountains. Notable nearby locales include the Cibola National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management Quebradas Scenic Backcountry Byway, and the Bosque del Apache and Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuges.