Come join the refuge and Friends of Bitter Lake for this free, fun for all 2024 Dragonfly Festival at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge for some great family fun on Saturday, September 7, 2024!
Join professional dragonfly experts on a guided tour to learn about our many dragonflies and damselflies and experience up-close encounters with these fascinating insects as you search for some interesting captures! We have over 100 species that use the refuge! See below how you can reserve your tour.
Get an up-close look and learn about the many animals that call New Mexico home; learn about bats and raptors during our live programs at 11:00 a.m. (raptors) and 2:00 p.m. (bats); walk through Discovery stations that include reptiles, other critters, invertebrates, fish, monarch butterflies, and waterfowl (ducks); join a wildlife biologist with a hands-on van tour and experience where many wildlife species call home. See below how you can reserve your van tour.
Join some of our local bird experts on an early guided tour and discover some of over 350 bird species that visit the refuge. Named as "Wetlands of International Importance," Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge provides an outstanding bird watching opportunity for both beginning and experienced bird watchers. See below how you can reserve your tour.
Take part in some fun arts and crafts and make some dragonfly art, try your luck in the kid's fishing pool and try archery provided by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; wander around in various exhibits and learn more about other refuges and our partners; sign up to help release Monarch butterflies as they migrate to their overwintering grounds in Mexico (please call to reserve your spot); or sit in on one of our live raptor and bird programs in the refuge auditorium (raptors at 11:00 a.m. and bats at 2:00 p.m.).
Boy Scouts and other vendors will be on hand for food and items for sale.
Thank you to all of our partners being involved! Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe National Park, Friends of Bitter Lake NWR, Bosque del Apache NWR, Las Vegas NWR, Maxwell NWR, Rio Mora NWR, Valle de Oro NWR, Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recover Center (Dexter), New Mexico Game and Fish, BLM, Smokey Bear Historical Park, Living Desert Museum, Desert Willow Rehab, Boy Scouts, Roswell Astronomy Club, Home Garden Club, and American Legion; plus vendors.
Starting August 1st, call the refuge visitor center to reserve your advance spot on any of these guided van tours or to reserve a spot to help release a tagged Monarch butterfly at 575-244-6256.
Saturday September 7, 2024
Early Bird Tour Saturday (starting August 1st, call to reserve your spot)
6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Guided Dragonfly Tours (starting August 1st, call to reserve your spot)
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Wildlife Tours (first come, first served)
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday September 8, 2024
Guided Dragonfly Tours (starting August 1st, call to reserve your spot)
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.