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.

May 24, 2025 — Rene Laubach, Leader

Six registrants, my wife Christyna and myself enjoyed stellar weather conditions, lovely scenery, and fine birding during this field trip. Although detecting birds mostly by sound in the beginning, we were eventually treated to good looks at a variety of colorful and interesting species–43 in all, including Acorn Woodpecker, Warbling and Plumbeous Vireos, a rare-flagged Gray Catbird, Hermit Thrush, Northern House Wren, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Bullock’s Oriole, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and five species of warblers–Virginia’s, MacGillivray’s, Yellow, Grace’s, and Wilson’s. 

eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S242140912