Despite its tiny size, this neighborhood park has gained a reputation as a terrific birding site in Las Cruces, particularly during migration. The entire park can be combed over for birds in less than a half-hour, making it a quick stop for those short on time.

The park consists of a tiny green lawn backed by a row of trees (mostly elms), surrounded by a circular paved path.

Scan the elms and other trees for migrant passerines in fall and spring, or for sapsuckers in fall/winter. This is one of the better sites in Las Cruces to find Hooded Oriole (spring-summer) and Anna’s Hummingbird (fall-winter), both of which utilize hummingbird feeders in the surrounding neighborhood and may visit the park. Dirt paths can be followed southwest from the park down a desert arroyo, which hosts Cactus Wren, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Pyrrhuloxia, and Curve-billed and Crissal Thrashers. A drainage pond at the far end of the arroyo may collect water during the late summer rains, attracting egrets or other waterbirds. It is often worthwhile to search for sparrows in the weedy vegetation surrounding this pond during the fall and winter.

Tellbrook Park is located along East Winchester Road on the east side of Las Cruces. The park is inconspicuous from the road and is easily missed; look for a small dirt pull-off on the southeast side of the road, directly across from house number 4307. Park in this pull-off or along the roadside, making sure not to block anyone’s driveway. The park is open to the public every day from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. Though Tellbrook Park is rarely busy, children and their parents often come to use the small playground in the afternoon, so the morning is the best time for birding.