Seventy-two species of birds are currently documented at the site. Great horned owls, Wild turkeys, Ring-necked pheasants, and Red-headed woodpeckers are commonly seen or heard along the river in the cottonwoods. In the winter, Northern harriers and Red-tailed hawks can be viewed as they prey on small rodents in the scattered trees along the river. Mallards, Snow geese, and Canada geese can be found in the large wetland during the winter. White-faced ibis migrate through the park in the spring. The park has a Bird Check List (hard copies available at the fort) that includes 137 species of birds and lists 15 species that were identified from period diaries as being here during the 1840's.
- Saturday, August 9th 1845,
Report of Lt. James Abert of his Examination of New Mexico - "... Scattered around the fort in different cages we saw some of the birds of this region - mocking bird, 'turdus polyglottus,' magpie, 'corvus pica,' and two of the bald-headed eagle, 'falco leucocephalus' ."
View of Bent’s Old Fort with Bullock’s Oriole and cottonwood trees and other riparian vegetation.
