Birds, Butterflies, and Wildlife!

                         

State Parks is for the Birds...

New Mexico State Parks offers varied, valuable habitats for birds and special attractions for birders. With close ties to Audubon New Mexico, several State Parks are listed as Important Bird Areas. Whether you are interested in a ranger guided bird walk or want to take off on your own for a quiet morning of birding, State Parks is the place to be.

Birding volunteers are always welcome and State Parks are always trying to improve our bird lists and programs.  Bird habitat conservation is also important in parks and volunteer habitat stewardship projects occur at many parks statewide.

Follow our fun bird photo galleries on Pinterest!

 Watching Butterflies in State Parks

With more than 300 species, New Mexico ranks among the best areas in the US for butterfly diversity and State Parks are great places to butterfly watch!  Within our parks there are valuable and varied habitats for butterflies, as well as amenities for visitors. 

Among the New Mexico butterfly specialties is the small, yet spectacular, Sandia Hairstreak, now our official  State Butterfly.  It can be seen at several state parks in eastern and southern New Mexico in March and April.

Join a butterfly festival, enjoy a ranger program or walk on State Park trails to learn about these fascinating creatures.

Where the Wild Things Are...

Parks are great places to see and learn about other wildlife as well. Deer, elk, bobcat, javelina, rabbit, and bats inhabit our parks--just to name a few.  State Park Rangers and scientists provide great programs about mammals, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Learn about the bear and mountain lions. And visit our zoo to see wildlife from the Chihuahuan Desert, up close and personal.