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Federal Government

National Park Service

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai Unit

Date: Every Friday through October 30, 2026 (upcoming: July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24)
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Quarai Unit, 122 Manzano Quarai Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Quarai Unit every Friday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Gran Quivira Unit

Date: Every Saturday through October 24, 2026 (upcoming: July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26)
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Gran Quivira Unit, 4030 Quivera Flats Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Gran Quivira Unit every Saturday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Abó Unit

Date: Every Sunday through October 25, 2026 (upcoming: June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27)
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Abó Unit, 69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Abó Unit every Sunday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

BARK in the Park Hike

Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MDT – 12:00 PM MDT (educational presentation to follow)
Location:COMMENT: Location conflict in sources. ABQ Journal and NPS-affiliated listings cite the Abó Unit (69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036). Dispatch June 15 and June 22 event listings cite the Quarai Unit (122 Manzano Quarai Rd). Verify directly with the Mountainair Headquarters Visitor Center at (505) 847-2585 before publishing.
Details: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and the Friends of the Mountainair Animal Shelter (FOMAS) invite visitors to bring their dogs for a ranger-led trail hike and earn BARK Ranger status. The program encourages participants to follow the B.A.R.K. principles: Bag waste, Always leash, Respect wildlife, and Know where to go. FOMAS partners will offer educational presentations on dog adoption. Bring lunch to enjoy at the picnic area during the presentation. For more information, contact the Mountainair Headquarters Visitor Center at (505) 847-2585.

Dark Skies, Bright Stars! — 2026 Dark Sky Program

Date: Friday, July 17, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Abó Unit, 69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers and volunteers host a spectacular evening program as part of the 2026 Dark Sky Program series. Activities include ranger-led tours, telescope viewing, a dark sky photography workshop, and guided pueblo and mission programs. The Estancia Valley is one of the darkest sky corridors in New Mexico, making this a standout stargazing opportunity for visitors of all ages. Admission is free.

State Government

Department of Veterans Services

NMDVS Veterans' Benefits Outreach — Socorro/Belen

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM MDT
Location: Forget Me Not Veteran Center, 705 N. California St., Socorro, NM 87801
Details: The New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services (NMDVS) will hold a veterans' benefits outreach visit serving the Socorro and Belen areas, including Valencia County residents. Veterans and eligible dependents can meet one-on-one with an accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) for assistance with VA disability ratings, VA medical and mental health care, retiree pensions, military burials, and other federal VA benefits. Staff can also assist with state veterans' benefits, including discounted hunting and fishing licenses, veterans' license plates, property tax exemptions, and state park passes. Bring a copy of your DD-214, VA award letter, and a valid NM ID. Additional outreach dates at this location are scheduled for August 11, 2026. For more information, contact the NMDVS Belen/Central NM office at (505) 537-9339 or rob.miller@dvs.nm.gov.

Torrance County

Torrance County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting

Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM MDT
Location: Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Regularly scheduled administrative meeting of the Torrance County Board of County Commissioners. The commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. For questions, contact the County Manager's Office at (505) 544-4700.

Torrance County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM MDT
Location: Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Regularly scheduled administrative meeting of the Torrance County Board of County Commissioners. The commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. For questions, contact the County Manager's Office at (505) 544-4700.

Encino

Encino Village Council

Monthly Council Meeting

Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Encino Government Offices, 527 North Main St., Encino, NM 88321
Details: The council meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. For more information on Encino events, contact the Village Hall at (575) 584-2980.

Estancia

Public Meeting held by the Board of Trustees

Date: June 30, 2026
Time: 5:45 PM MDT
Location: Torrance County Building Board Room, Estancia, NM
Details: A rescheduled Board of Trustees Public Meeting regarding the status of Mayor Runnel Riley. Public comment will be welcome during this window. Written comments may also be submitted to the Town Clerk/Treasurer.

Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees

Date: June 30, 2026
Time: 6:15 PM MDT
Location: Torrance County Building Board Room, Estancia, NM
Details: A rescheduled Board of Trustees Special Meeting. The agenda includes voting on Resolution 2026-021 (findings that Mayor Runnel Riley has abandoned his position and expressing a formal vote of no confidence) and voting on a contract with a law firm for general counsel services.

Flea Market

Date: July 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM MDT
Location: 204 S Fifth St, Estancia, NM 87016 (former Wells Fargo building)
Details: Free outdoor Independence Day morning flea market. Vendor setup is completely free. Spaces can be reserved ahead of time by calling (505) 475-0001.

July 4th Park Events

Date: July 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MDT (Fireworks at dusk)
Location: Arthur Park, 814 W Highland Ave, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Annual Fourth of July celebration featuring live music, a bike parade, mushball games, and a community fireworks display at dusk. (Note: Attendees are urged to cooperate with ongoing water conservation requests due to low municipal well levels).

Town Offices/Library Closed for Independence Day

Date: July 6, 2026
Time: All Day
Location: Town Offices & Estancia Public Library, Estancia, NM
Details: Local administrative offices and the public library will be closed in observance of the Independence Day federal holiday.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Date: July 7, 2026
Time: 6:15 PM MDT
Location: Town Hall, Estancia, NM
Details: Regular meeting of the Town of Estancia Board of Trustees to address administrative business and community affairs.

Tween Event at the Library

Date: July 10, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM MDT
Location: Estancia Public Library, 601 S Tenth St, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: A free "Wonders on Wheels! Museum on the Move" interactive event designed for youth aged 11–14, exploring "The Arts of Democracy in New Mexico". Spaces are limited; call the library to register.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Date: July 20, 2026
Time: 6:15 PM MDT
Location: Town Hall, Estancia, NM
Details: Regular meeting of the Town of Estancia Board of Trustees to review town operations, budgets, and community updates.

Estancia Alumni Class Reunion

Date: July 24, 2026
Time: Not specified
Location: Town of Estancia, NM
Details: Annual class reunion event where everyone is welcome to attend. Due to an active local water emergency, attendees are requested to remain conscious of water usage and conserve where possible.

Old Timers Day

Date: July 25, 2026
Time: Parade Line-up at 9:00 AM; Parade starts at 10:00 AM
Location: Arthur Park, 814 W Highland Ave, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Music by the Jonathon Chavez Band, along with a car show, vendors, food trucks, and a horseshoe tournament.

Moriarty

Summer Lunch Program

Date: Ongoing (Monday – Friday)
Time: Moriarty Middle School: Breakfast 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM, Lunch 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM; Echo Ridge Water Tower: Lunch 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM; Depot Apartments: Lunch 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM; Moriarty City Park: Lunch 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Location: Various locations across Moriarty, NM
Details: Free summer lunch and breakfast program providing healthy meals to kids and teens ages 1–18. For additional details or questions, call 505-832-5838.

Dig Into Summer Reading

Date: Ongoing through August 31, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM MDT
Location: Moriarty Community Library, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The community library's annual summer reading program. Participants who complete and turn in their reading logs earn two free scoops of ice cream courtesy of local sponsor Da' People's Choice.

4th of July Explosion!

Date: July 4, 2026
Time: Parade at 10:00 AM, kids' activities all day, live entertainment from 8:00 PM – Midnight, fireworks at dusk
Location: Crossley Park, 501 Lindberg Ave, Moriarty, NM 87035 / Citywide, Moriarty, NM
Details: Official Independence Day celebration hosted by the City of Moriarty. The event features a morning parade, a beer garden, bouncy house setups, all-day entertainment for kids, live music through midnight, and a spectacular fireworks show at dusk.

New Mexico Archaeologist Visiting (NMOAS)

Date: July 7, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM MDT
Location: Moriarty Community Library, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: A specialized hands-on educational adventure hosted at the library, presented by the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies.

Wonder on Wheels

Date: July 15, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM MDT
Location: Moriarty Community Library, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs mobile museum initiative, "Wonder on Wheels! Museum on the Move," stops in Moriarty to offer an interactive exhibition for local youth and families.

Mountainair

Town Council Meeting

Date: July 7, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Mountainair Town Council Building, 107 1/2 North Roosevelt Avenue, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Regular bi-weekly meeting of the Mountainair Town Council to discuss local administrative items. Call-in options are available at (346) 248-7799 with Meeting ID: 856-052-5813 and Passcode: 888-888.

Town Council Meeting

Date: July 21, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Mountainair Town Council Building, 107 1/2 North Roosevelt Avenue, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Regular bi-weekly meeting of the Mountainair Town Council. Phone call-in details remain the same as previous sessions.

Mountainair Firecracker Jubilee Parade (Rescheduled)

Date: July 25, 2026
Time: Roughly between sunset (8:12 PM) and the conclusion of civil twilight (8:42 PM)
Location: Mountainair, NM
Details: The town's annual Jubilee Parade, traditionally held over the 4th of July weekend, has been officially rescheduled and moved to this date.

2026 Mountainair Sunflower Festival

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM MDT
Location: Manzano Mountain Arts Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036 (corner of US Highway 60 and NM Highway 55) and throughout Monte Alto Plaza, 122 W Main St, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: A free, family-friendly arts festival featuring more than 50 fine artists, 20-plus local vendors, live music, a beer and wine garden, a children's activities area, a sunflower hat and costume contest, a treasure sale, and an art raffle and silent auction. More information will be available as the date approaches.

Willard

Willard Village Council Monthly Meeting

Date: Monday, July 13, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM MDT
Location: Willard Village Hall, 720 Dunlavy Ave, Willard, NM 87063
Details: The council meets on the 2nd Monday of each month. For more information on Willard events, contact the Village Hall at (505) 384-2874.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Central Tri-County Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting

Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MDT
Location: 2506 NM-333, Moriarty, NM 87035 (also known as 2506 Old Route 66)
Details: Regular monthly meeting of the Central Tri-County SWCD board, held on the 1st Thursday of each month.

Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District Regular Board Meeting

Date: Friday, July 10, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM MDT
Location: Claunch-Pinto SWCD Conservation Center, 1206 NM-55, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Monthly meeting held on the 1st Friday of the month. Meetings are open to the public and currently available via Zoom. For Zoom access information, visit http://www.claunchpinto.org.

East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM MDT
Location: 715 S 5th St, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Regular monthly meeting of the board of supervisors. The board meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

Other Organizations

Mountainair Rotary Club Weekly Lunch Meeting

Date: Every Thursday
Time: 12:00 PM MDT
Location: Claunch-Pinto SWCD Conservation Center, 1206 NM-55, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Weekly meeting for community service planning and networking. Visitors are welcome and should bring their own lunch.

TCAS Presentation — "Military Misjudgments in the Florida and San Andreas Mountains, New Mexico"

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM MDT
Location: Manzano Mountain Arts Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: The Torrance County Archaeological Society presents a lecture by Charles M. Haecker entitled "Military Misjudgments in the Florida and San Andreas Mountains, New Mexico, or 'Head Toward the Smoke Plumes, Men.'" The presentation focuses on Apache encounters in southern New Mexico, with particular emphasis on Victorio's Apache band. More information is available at tcas-presents-charles-haecker-july-7th-tuesday-mountainair-mmac.

2026 Young Arts Club Exhibition

Date: Now through Thursday, July 9, 2026
Time: Regular gallery hours
Location: Manzano Mountain Arts Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Exhibition showcasing work by members of the MMAC Young Arts Club, the 2026 Artists-in-Residence cohort at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.

"Free Range" Art Exhibition (MMAC)

Date: Now through Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: Regular gallery hours
Location: Manzano Mountain Arts Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Exhibition featuring local artwork inspired by the landscapes and agricultural heritage of the Estancia Valley.

Fort Stanton Live! — 250th Anniversary of the United States and 30 Years of Fort Stanton, Inc.

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM MDT (gates open)
Location: Fort Stanton Historic Site, 104 Kit Carson Rd, Fort Stanton, NM 88323
Details: Fort Stanton Historic Site celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States and the 30th anniversary of Fort Stanton, Inc. with a full day of living history demonstrations, lectures, Native American dancers, live camels, a quilt show, and more. Tickets are available online at nmculture.org and at the door. Visitors who purchase tickets online are advised to print their confirmation or save a screenshot, as cell and internet service is unreliable in the area around the fort.

"Threads — The Art of Fiber" Exhibition Opening (MMAC)

Date: Sunday, July 12, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM MDT
Location: Manzano Mountain Arts Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Opening reception for Threads, an exhibition celebrating handmade paper, weaving, felting, and fabric arts.

Membership Appreciation Workshop

Date: July 12, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: MMAC Center, 101 E Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: featuring specialized sessions on plant dyeing with Joshua Orr and Kalyn Finnell, alongside screen printing with Daniel Bottini. Active members must register and RSVP online to save a spot.

Lujan Racing Free Appreciation Dance

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM MDT – 12:00 AM MDT
Location: Torreon Community Center, 18 Torreon Heights Rd, Torreon, NM 87061
Details: Lujan Racing invites the community to a free appreciation dance in honor of everyone who has supported the team. Music will be provided by the Brahma Band. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, follow Lujan Drag on Facebook.

Corona Days Kids Rodeo

Date: Friday, July 24, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM MDT
Location: Corona Roping Arena, Corona, NM 88318
Details: The Corona Days Kids Rodeo is a free event open to children ages 0–18, with four age divisions: 0–6, 7–10, 11–14, and 15–18. Events include leadline, barrel racing, flag racing, pole bending, boot scramble, three-legged race, coke chug, and more. Prizes will be awarded to event winners, and saddle drawings will be held. Entries must be submitted before midnight on Thursday, July 23, 2026, via Facebook or text message. A $10 Breakaway Jackpot Roping with 100% payout will follow the Kids Rodeo. For more information, contact Kaci Paintin at (575) 749-0760 or Kyle Paintin at (719) 339-6104, or follow the event on Facebook for updates.

Moriarty Mini Comic Con — Vol. 8: Vendor Applications Sought

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Time: To Be Provided
Location: Moriarty Civic Center, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The Friends of the Moriarty Community Library present the eighth annual Moriarty Mini Comic Con, a community celebration of comics, art, gaming, and pop culture. Vendor applications are currently being accepted. For more information, contact the Friends of the Moriarty Community Library.

Forest Stewards Youth Corps — Fall Fire and Fuels Program (Now Recruiting)

Date: Recruitment ongoing; the program dates are August 19, 2026, through Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: Full-time (40 hours per week)
Location: Mountainair, NM (also Pueblo of Jemez and Santa Fe)
Details: The Forest Stewards Youth Corps (FSYC), in partnership with the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps and the US Forest Service, is now recruiting crew members and crew leaders ages 18 to 25 for its 13-week Fall Fire and Fuels Program. Positions pay $18 to $20 per hour with overtime pay eligibility. The program is based in Mountainair, among other locations. To apply as a crew member or crew leader, visit foreststewardsguild.org/fsyc. For more information, contact Andrew Pearson at apearson@forestguild.org or (505) 795-2551.

Astronomy and Nature

The Estancia Valley offers some of the darkest skies in New Mexico, making this area an excellent base for stargazing. Readers who want real-time sky guidance can use NASA's Skywatching. The Estancia Valley is also part of a remarkable ecosystem with a wide variety of migratory and year-round bird species that can be viewed throughout the valley.

Venus: The Brightest Thing in the Evening Sky

Right now, Venus is putting on one of its best summer shows. As soon as the sky gets dark after sunset, look low in the western sky and you will find a brilliant white point of light that is far brighter than any star — that is Venus, sometimes called the "Evening Star," even though it is a planet. In July, Venus is so bright it can even cast faint shadows on a clear, dark night. It will be visible for about two hours after sunset throughout the month, drifting slowly through the constellation Leo (the Lion). If you look on the evenings of July 8 and 9, Venus will sit very close to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo — a beautiful and easy-to-spot pairing in the western sky.

The Moon and Venus — A Close Pair (July 17)

On the evening of Friday, July 17, look toward the western sky after sunset for a crescent Moon hanging less than 2° away from dazzling Venus in Leo. That is close enough to cover with your outstretched pinky finger. Even with the naked eye, it is a beautiful sight. Binoculars make it even better.

Mars Meets Uranus Before Dawn (July 4)

Here is something special for early risers on Independence Day morning: Mars and the distant planet Uranus will be so close together in the sky that they will nearly touch — just 6.3 arcminutes apart, or about one-fifth the width of the full Moon. Mars is easy to find with the naked eye as a dim, rusty-orange "star" rising in the east a couple of hours before sunrise in the constellation Taurus. Uranus, however, is far too faint to see without binoculars — but here is the good news: if you point your binoculars at Mars that morning, Uranus will be sitting right next to it as a tiny, faint, blue-gray dot. This is one of the easiest chances all year to spot the seventh planet with binoculars.

Moon and Saturn (July 7) and Moon and Mars (July 11)

If you are an early riser, the morning sky has some great treats this month. On July 7, the crescent Moon will appear very close to Saturn, the ringed planet, in the constellation Pisces. Saturn looks like a steady, golden-yellow "star" and is a spectacular sight through even a small telescope. Four days later, on July 11, the crescent Moon will visit Mars in the pre-dawn sky. These kinds of Moon pairings make great subjects for phone photography — just set your phone against something steady and take a photo of the scene low on the eastern horizon before sunrise.

The Full Strawberry Moon (June 29)

The June full Moon rises on the evening of Sunday, June 29. It is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon, named after the wild strawberries that ripen in early summer. This year it is also what astronomers call a Micromoon — meaning the Moon is near the farthest point in its orbit from Earth, so it appears slightly smaller and dimmer than average. It still makes a beautiful sight rising over the Estancia Valley. Watch for it climbing above the eastern mountains shortly after sunset.

The Summer Triangle: Your Guide to the Summer Night Sky

One of the best things about summer in the Estancia Valley is the sky. With very little light pollution, the area is one of the best places in New Mexico to see the Milky Way and deep-sky objects. Once it is fully dark, look overhead and find three bright stars forming a large triangle: Vega (the brightest), Deneb, and Altair. Together they form the Summer Triangle, and they will be a fixture of the night sky all summer long. Inside and around this triangle are some of the most beautiful deep-sky objects visible with a telescope or binoculars — including the Dumbbell Nebula (the first planetary nebula ever discovered), the Ring Nebula, the North America Nebula, and the Veil Nebula. These are clouds of glowing gas left behind by dying stars, millions of light-years away. You can use a free app like Star Walk 2 or SkySafari to help you find them.

Nature Notes: Birds and Wildlife (June 22 – July 22, 2026)

Summer Breeding Season in the Manzano Mountains

Right now, the Manzano Mountains — just west of Mountainair along the Estancia Valley — are alive with breeding birds. This is the time of year when songbirds are busy raising their young. Hikers on the mountain trails may hear the flute-like song of the Hermit Thrush echoing through the ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests above 7,000 feet. Cordilleran Flycatchers, tiny birds that dart out to catch insects mid-air, can be found near streams and canyon bottoms. Higher up, near the spruce-fir zone approaching Capilla Peak, Blue Grouse sometimes boom from the shadows of the trees. If you go early in the morning and keep quiet, you may also hear Plumbeous Vireos, Virginia's Warblers, and Western Tanagers singing from the treetops. Bring water, sturdy shoes, and be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms.

Hummingbirds on the Move

By the second week of July, Rufous and Calliope Hummingbirds begin appearing across New Mexico — and this is sooner than most people expect. These tiny birds are already heading south from their breeding grounds in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Rufous Hummingbirds in particular are one of the longest-distance migrants of any bird their size, flying thousands of miles each year. In the Estancia Valley, your backyard hummingbird feeders — especially if you have red or orange flowers like salvia or trumpet vine nearby — may attract them as they pass through. Keep your feeders clean and full throughout July and into August.

Early Shorebird Migration Has Quietly Begun

It may feel like the middle of summer, but bird migration has already started again. By early July, the first southbound shorebirds — sandpipers and their relatives — begin appearing at wetlands and ponds across New Mexico. Solitary Sandpipers and Stilt Sandpipers are among the first to pass through. These birds bred in the Arctic tundra just weeks ago and are already making their way south. Keep an eye on any pond or flooded field in the valley — they do not need a lake, just a muddy edge.

The Manzano HawkWatch: Mark Your Calendar for August

The famous Manzano Mountains HawkWatch, operated by HawkWatch International near Capilla Peak, does not open for organized raptor counting until late August. But it is worth knowing about now so you can plan for the fall. Each year from late August through early November, thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons ride the updrafts along the western ridge of the Manzanos on their way south. Species like Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, and Golden Eagles funnel through this site in large numbers. The public is welcome to visit and watch alongside HawkWatch staff and volunteers. The site is reached via a 0.7-mile hike from the trailhead off Forest Road 245 above the town of Manzano. More information is available at hawkwatch.org.

*The Mountainair Dispatch covers public affairs, community life, and local news across Torrance County, New Mexico. To submit an event for a future post, email todd@mountainairdispatch.com. There is no charge to list events.*

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