The New Mexico Birding Big Year contest launches Jan. 1 — find out how you can get involved

In birding parlance, the notion of a Big Year can mean different things to different people.

In 2004, Mark Obmascik authored the nonfiction book “The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession,” which chronicles the journey of three men on their quest to record the most prolific year of bird observation in history. That work was also remade into the 2011 film “The Big Year,” which starred Steven Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black in a light-hearted version of a similar quest.

While not all participants are expected to be as single-minded in their birding endeavors, those works serve as the inspiration for the first annual New Mexico Birding Big Year contest. The goal is the same: to observe as many species of birds as possible within the state in 2026 between Thursday, Jan. 1, through Dec. 31.

The contest coincides with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish changing its name to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, which was the result of Senate Bill 5 earlier this year.

“A lot of people associate Game and Fish with hunting and fishing, which we obviously educate and regulate,” Curt Coffman, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish assistant chief of education, said. “But we also study lots of other organisms — what we call species of greatest conservation need — which are often nongame related species of reptiles, birds, mammals and insects. Something we've kind of set as a goal is to create some educational activities and events that are more wildlife-viewing oriented.”

This competition fits the bill in that regard, and the Land of Enchantment should provide myriad birding opportunities for participants.

“New Mexico is fourth in the nation in terms of highest bird species diversity,” Coffman said. “So we're over 550 species that have been identified in the state.”

Those interested will need to register online at the New Mexico Department of Wildlife website (wildlife.dgf.nm.gov). Participants will use the eBird app to enter their observation data, which will be submitted on June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31 to the program coordinator. While one can observe as much or as little as they want over the course of the year, the deadline to register for the Birding Big Year contest is April 1.

There are three categories for the competition: youth (ages 13-17), adult (18-64) and senior (65 and up). The adult and senior divisions also have skill level options of novice, intermediate and advanced. Prizes will be awarded in each division. Equipment used can range from a smartphone with a zoom lens to high-end binoculars or scopes.

“You could do this from your backyard and in your neighborhood as someone who's a beginner, and they identify 20 to 30 birds,” Coffman said. “That’s a win, right? When you start watching for birds, you just start noticing the environment, you just start noticing everything around you. Gaining appreciation for even their local environment is kind of a goal.”

Some of the more common species one might find include the house finch, white-winged dove, American robin, American goldfinch, lesser goldfinch, red-winged blackbird, black-throated hummingbird and the greater roadrunner, to name a few. Some of the harder-to-find birds are the Mexican whip-poor-will, prairie falcon, common blackhawk, Mexican spotted owl and red-faced warbler, among others. In many instances, the type of species spotted depends on the area in which one is birding.

“We hope people will travel around the state because if you go to the southwest, there are different birds than there are in Albuquerque. Or if you head up into any of the mountain ranges, there are birds up there that you're not going to find at lower elevations. And the same thing in the desert, or you go to White Sands,” Coffman said. “So I think a big goal is that people become adventurous and discover some of the beautiful places we have in the state.”

Participants looking for guidance should seek out bird watching hikes hosted by various organizations throughout the state. Many of these will be posted on the department website, which will also hold birding-themed events as well.

“I'm a bad birder at best, but I like to go out there,” Coffman said. “… I've met some very passionate birders since starting this job, and we just saw a great opportunity to do this.”