Bosque del Apache

This week (after voting out the republicans) the Lady Diane and meself are taking the RV down to Bosque del Apache to see the cranes.
Can you imagine tens of thousands of ducks, geese, and Sandhill Cranes in the air at dawn or dusk? The haunting sounds of the birds calling to each other as they swirl overhead? If you haven't experienced Bosque del Apache NWR, then you certainly must come to New Mexico.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge lies along nine miles of the Rio Grande River in south central New Mexico. Although the area is in the Chihuahuan desert, the refuge land along the river is lush, an oasis in an otherwise inhospitable area. Cottonwood trees, willows, wetlands, and meadows combine to create a magical place, a place the hundreds of thousands of birds call their winter home.
Bosque del Apache means "woods of the Apache," for the Indians that camped in this riverside area. This riparian habitat is home for 377 species of birds throughout the year. From tiny hummingbirds to huge Whooping Cranes, flycatchers to hawks and Bald Eagles, many people consider Bosque del Apache one of the top birding places in the United States.

Within the refuge, established in the late 1930's, a series of canals carry water from the Rio Grande to various areas in the refuge, allowing biologists to irrigate fields and flood other areas, creating shallow ponds for the ducks and geese. Water is moved from area to area to create new feeding areas as well as reduce the chances of avian cholera. Corn and alfalfa are grown on the refuge as well as in nearby fields. The farmers keep most of the crops, leaving some of the crop standing in the fields, food for the thousands of birds throughout the winter.

The success of Bosque del Apache can be measured by the Sandhill Crane population. In 1940, only 17 Sandhills spent the winter at the new refuge. Today, after years of land and water management, over 18,000 Sandhills come home to the Bosque, along with 30,000 Snow and Ross's geese and 40,000 ducks each winter. In 1999, over 60 Bald Eagles perched on the snags along with countless hawks and falcons, watching and waiting for their next meal. Hiking trails crisscross parts of the refuge, allowing fantastic views of birds, deer, coyotes, and other wildlife. You can even go birding in your car since Bosque has a series of loops through various habitats. There are numerous viewing decks that jut out into the marshes as well as a great photography blind allowing you to get some close-up photos of diving ducks. Some areas are normally closed to the public to give the birds privacy and quiet.

Each November, the Refuge hosts the Festival of the Cranes, attended by over 160,000 people in 1999.