Lesser Prairie Chicken Lek Viewing

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Leader: Shane Woolbright
mesoinc@hotmail.com

The Sangre de Cristo Audubon chapter has arranged with The Nature Conservancy to provide a blind for viewing the dance of the Lesser Prairie Chicken on the morning of April 9th. This will be a very early rising and departure from the lek should occur before 9:00 a.m. More details will be provided for those who register. If you’d like to attend, email Shane Woolbright at mesoinc@hotmail.com and provide your email and telephone number. Hotel location in Portales will be provided to those who reserve the tour early. Only a small number will be allowed for this showing. The chapter will make an effort to have multiple viewings next year.

Christmas Bird Counts 2025-2026

For over a century the Christmas Bird Count tradition has been a popular way to meet other birders and help with Audubon’s longest-running community science program.  All CBC count results are carefully vetted and added to the growing database of bird distribution data, but observers of all experience levels are welcome.  Christmas Bird Counts take place every winter from December 14 through January 5.  Each CBC covers a circular area 15 miles in diameter and runs for one day.  There are over a dozen CBCs in our Chapter’s extent!  

See a map of CBC locations

See a spreadsheet of CBC dates in New Mexico

For more information, see National Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count page.

Will you try for a Big Year in 2026?

A Big Year is a competition to see how many birds you can see during the calendar year. New Mexico Department of Wildlife (formerly Game and Fish) has announced the 2026 New Mexico Birding Big Year in an effort to bring attention to wildlife and conservation throughout the state.

Are you up for it? Go to the NMDW website for more info and to register. There will be prizes, and certainly bragging rights for those with the biggest lists.