With more than 500 species documented, New Mexico is one of the best areas in the US for bird diversity. New Mexico State Parks offers more than 30 public properties with varied, valuable habitats for birds and special attractions for birders.
* Migration Sensation is a special event held every spring along the Rio Grande at Percha Dam State Park - one of the top 5 birding locations in New Mexico.
* The High Plains Prairie Chicken Festival is a spring event held in eastern New Mexico. Oasis State Park offers nearby camping facilities for Festival participants.
The table below identifies our most popular birding parks and some of their special attributes.
One hour north of Elephant Butte Lake State Park,
is Bosque del  Apache National Wildlife Refuge along the
Rio Grande of New Mexico's premier birding destination is
about 1 hour north of Elephant Butte Lake State Park. The fabulous Festival of the Cranes is held there every November, when populations of overwintering sandhill cranes and snow geese are at their highest.
 Check with Audubon New Mexico (www.audubon.org) for detailed information about events, Important Bird Areas (IBAs), Christmas Bird Counts, Rare Bird Alert, and local chapters. The New Mexico Ornithological Society (www.nmosbirds.org) offers a state bird checklist and the 3rd edition of the New Mexico Bird Finder’s Guide, among other useful resources for bird-watchers.
 
With more than 300 species, New Mexico ranks among the best areas in the US for butterfly diversity. Great diversity here is attributable to the variety of life zones (from Lower Sonoran through Hudsonian), spanning a wide topographic range (from <3000 to >13,000 feet elevation), at the junction of the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau and Chihuahuan Desert. A direct overland connection to Mexico and the American subtropics means a reliable influx of subtropical strays.
 Among the New Mexico butterfly specialties is the small, yet spectacular, Sandia Hairstreak, now our official State Butterfly. It can be seen flying around stands of its hostplant, Texas beargrass, at several state parks in eastern and southern New Mexico in March and April.
New Mexico has considerable public land available for butterflyers to explore. For our part, New Mexico State Parks offers more than 30 properties with valuable and varied habitats for butterflies, as well as amenities for visitors. The table below identifies our most popular butterfly parks and their special attractions.
The secret to successful butterflying is being in the right places at the right times. The right times often coincide with warm temperatures and greatest moisture availability. For southern New Mexico and areas below 5000 feet elevation, this means spring (March – May) and late summer into autumn (July – October). For northern New Mexico and areas above 8000 feet elevation, this means late spring and summer (May – August). Also check recent weather information; butterflies in desert areas are very sensitive to soil moisture; the greatest abundance of butterfly adults usually occurs 3 to 4 weeks after heavy rains. Of course, each species has its own life cycle in which adults fly when they need to. A little bit of homework – studying up on the particular critters that interest you – can pay dividends and avert disappointment. For best results, check your field guides and other reference materials before scheduling your visit.
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