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Birding in New Mexico Gary Saint-John
Birding in New Mexico
Photos and article by Gary Saint-John
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
One of the most easily identified and well-known birds in New Mexico is the American Robin, that worm-pulling, berry-eating creature that graces yards and parks throughout the state.
With its reddish breast, dark head, white eye ring, and yellow beak, the American Robin is one of 557 species of birds that have been recorded in the Land of Enchantment. *
And that number—557—ranks New Mexico as fourth in terms of the number of bird species seen in the 50 states of the United States. (California is number one, Texas ranks number two, and Florida claims the number-three spot.) *
We’ll get to why New Mexico has so many species of birds in a while, but first: have you seen an American Robin? (The American Robin is just an example. Maybe you have seen a Turkey Vulture, or a Mallard, or a Redtailed Hawk, but are not aware that that is what you’re seeing.)
If you’re a little curious and a little observant, you are ready to become a full-fledged birder! Being curious is good, because curiosity and patient observation are key factors in the fascinating pastime of birding.
If you want to become more accomplished at identifying birds, four things are critical: 1) A sense of wonder. People are curious about numerous things, from collecting stamps to stargazing to watching birds. That curiosity—that sense of wonder—is an important element of birding. 2) Tools to closely observe what you are seeing. Binoculars are essential if you want to closely examine birds, particularly birds that are difficult to identify (and that’s a lot of birds!). Likewise, a spotting scope is handy when looking at distant birds, such as one on a lake. These tools can be expensive, so getting the right piece of equipment at an affordable price requires some research. 3) An identification guide. Numerous books, known as field guides, a Relax in the re available to help you determine what bird has captured your attention. The Pines internet is a wonderful resource to help you identify a particular species. You can even download bird-identification apps to your smart phone! 4) Taking time to watch birds. If you’re occupied with day-to-day tasks, getting to know birds can seem a distant goal. Squeezing time into your Kamp Kiwanis
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Spotted Towhee
day or week to look for birds can lead to new discoveries, such as a park or stream or pond. This effort can lead to an awareness of what type of habitats support what type of birds, and soon you’ll know where to go to find ducks, or warblers, or sparrows.
That brings us back to the 557 species of birds that have been seen in New Mexico. Why so many? In two words: landscape and habitat.
New Mexico is blessed with a range of topography, including mountains, streamside woodlands, desert, the western edge of the Great Plains, and the Great Basin area, all of which provide different habitats.
Plus, New Mexico is a dry state and water-based locations like Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, the sinewy Rio Grande, and Rattlesnake Springs in Carlsbad Caverns National Monument are extremely important to birds, from migrants to those that breed in the state or live here all year long.
How about McKinley County? A total of 257 species of birds have been reported in the county, including sightings in such diverse habitats as the Ramah Lake/Reservoir and Red Rock Park.* The county’s birds range from the abundant Common Raven to the hard-tofind Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
A great organization to learn more about birds and conservation issues is Audubon New Mexico, a regional office of the non-profit environmental group National Audubon Society. One fun group of enthusiasts—the Thursday Birders—schedules weekly field trips to birding locations in the Albuquerque area and other parts of New Mexico. They are affiliated with the Central New Mexico Audubon Society, in Albuquerque, and their trips can be found on its website at cnmas. newmexicoaudubon.org.
So, study the next bird you see; you’re becoming a birder! *These figures are from the super informative website eBird.org, which is a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Gary Saint-John is the pen name of an Albuquerque-based writer and birder.
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