New Mexico has one of the largest state bird lists of any U.S. state. There are so many birds, in fact, that the state has named several Important Bird Areas, where multiple species of birds breed or migrate. These sites are voluntarily protected during land-planning, and are also used to educate the public about conservation and other bird species. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one such site, made up of around 2,000 acres of wetlands and uplands. You’re likely to run across waterfowl like Wilson’s Phalaropes and Northern Pintails, along with Black-necked Stilts, Least Terns, and Snowy Plovers. A list of the top ten key New Mexico IBAs for 2009 and 2010 can be found here: http://nm.audubon.org/Protect_Restore_Species.html10IBAs.The state bird of Mexico is the Greater Roadrunner, which looks little like its Looney Tunes counterpart (apart from the crest on its head). It is nowhere near the size of a wolf, reaching little more than 2′. The roadrunner is a powerful predator in its own right, though–its prey includes snakes, lizards, scorpions, and mice.The New Mexico Ornithological Society publishes a twice-weekly report highlighting rare birds seen across the state. Between August 23 and August 26, a number of uncommon birds were sighted. A Tricolored Heron was seen in Chaves County. These usually have blue-grey heads, white stomachs, and blue plumes on the head and neck. The Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron was also glimpsed in Sierra County. These birds are usually found in coastal regions, and are related to the now-extinct Bermuda Night Heron.There’s obviously a lot to admire for ornithologists in New Mexico, and even those with little birding experience can enjoy the chance to see such a variety of species in flight. Make sure to bring a checklist with you, though.