Courtesy photo
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), in partnership with the Los Alamos Mountaineers (LAM), invites the community to welcome spring migration with two guided birding hikes through Acid and Pueblo Canyons. Outings will take place from 7–10 a.m., Thursday, May 14 and Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Led by local birder Robin Gurule, each hike offers participants the chance to explore two Los Alamos canyons with a small group while learning to identify migrating songbirds, especially by ear. These outings are designed to be accessible to birders of all experience levels, and beginners are encouraged to join.
Each hike covers approximately 4 miles along a steep, rocky trail with significant elevation gain. The group will pause frequently to listen for, look for, and identify birds, making for rewarding and immersive spring birding experiences.
Participants will meet at the Aquatic Center trailhead at 7 a.m. and return around 10 a.m. Admissions is free for PEEC or LAM Members, $5 for Non‐Members. Group size is limited to 5 participants per hike
What to Bring
- Water
- Sturdy hiking shoes
- Layers for variable spring weather
- Binoculars (a limited number will be available to borrow)
No dogs allowed.
Because of the steep and rocky terrain, this is a moderately strenuous outing.
Participants should be comfortable hiking on uneven ground.
About the Guide
Robin Gurule grew up exploring the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and spent summers backpacking in the Washington Cascades and working in her cousins’ apple orchards. A skilled realistic bird carver for more than a decade, Robin later earned her accounting degree and CPA from Northern Arizona University before beginning a long career at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Since retiring in 2018, she has devoted her time to birding, hiking, backpacking, rafting, organic gardening, and folk music and dance. She has served as treasurer for the Folk Music and Dance Society Board since 2018 and joined PEEC’s Board in 2024.
These small‐group outings offer a peaceful, intimate way to experience spring migration in Los Alamos’s canyon landscapes. Space is limited for each date—reserve your spot soon.
For more information and to register, visit PEEC’s website at peecnature.org/events. Stay connected on social media for updates on each week’s activities.
PEEC was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, holds regular programs and events, and hosts several interest groups, from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however, members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and gift shop merchandise. Annual memberships start at $35. To learn more, visit peecnature.org/support/membership/.