Mesilla Valley Audubon Society

“Sometimes I think that the point of birdwatching is not the actual seeing of the birds, but the cultivation of patience. Of course, each time we set out, there's a certain amount of expectation we'll see something, maybe even a species we've never seen before, and that it will fill us with light. But even if we don't see anything remarkable - and sometimes that happens - we come home filled with light anyway.” Lynn Thomson, Birding with Yeats: A Mother's Memoir

ABOUT US

The Mesilla Valley Audubon Society (MVAS) is a 501 (c)(3) conservation and natural history organization based in southern New Mexico and is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. It serves communities in Dona Ana, Otero, and Sierra counties and aims to promote the appreciation and conservation of birds and other wildlife. A priority is to protect wildlife and bird habitats through enviromental education, issue advocacy, and natural history experiences

MVAS is headquartered in Las Cruces, and its main activities are in Doña Ana County, with frequent field trips across southern New Mexico and El Paso County in Texas. Common birding areas include at least a dozen eBird.org hotspots within the city of Las Cruces and along the Rio Grande. Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park and Leasburg Dam State Park are exceptional areas. To the east of the Rio Grande and City of Las Cruces, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument offers an entirely different habitat that is home to a different range of bird species.

August Activities

August 29 – Leasburg Dam State Park – Bird Walk 8 am – 10:00

September Activities

Tuesdays, September 1, 8, and 15, 6:30 p.m., Las Cruces Village: Birding Basics I is offered again this fall to help new birders become more confident and learn tricks of the trade from experienced members. This three-evening class is open to all and free for everyone, so please invite your bird-curious friends! It helps if you sign up here so enough handouts can be prepared.

Saturday, September 5, 8 a.m., Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park: Meet Dana Parsons for a guided bird walk. $5 entrance fee per vehicle, $10 for out-of-state visitors.

Saturday, September 12, 8 a.m., Sagecrest Park: Meet David Coalson for a guided bird walk of the area behind the park and east of the Las Cruces Dam, including the duck pond.

Saturday, September 12, 8:30 a.m., Aguirre Spring Recreation Area: Nature journaling! Come at 8:30 for a mini-lesson on creating “landscapitos” or at 9 to jump right into journaling.

Wednesday, September 16, 6:30 p.m., NMSU Knox Hall Room 142 and Zoom: Monthly meeting with a presentation by NM Wild and the Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks about the importance of Otero Mesa. Social time at 6:30 (with snacks!) and the presentation begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 19, 8 a.m., Sagecrest Park: Meet Aaron at the park entrance to clean up our adopted park. He’ll have the buckets and grabbers, you bring the energy.

Saturday, September 26, 8 a.m., Leasburg Dam State Park: Join Daniel Horton near the visitor center for a guided bird walk. $5 entrance fee per vehicle ($10 if you’re from out-of-state).

For more information on the above activities check the calendar page