Bosque del Apache

Our last day on the road. We left T or C and and were heading north on Interstate 25.

We wanted to visit Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Socorro. Each fall, tens of thousands of birds, including Sandhill Cranes, geese and ducks, make the Refuge their winter home. I thought we might be a bit early to see the birds and indeed in the Visitor Center we were told that the ‘cranes had not made any reservations for winter yet’ … However if you get a chance to visit in November, the city of Socorro and Bosque del Apache celebrate the returns of the cranes with the popular and acclaimed “Festival of the Cranes”:

November 13th-18th 2012

Photos and Descriptions Above By: New Mexico Department of Tourism

Bosque del Apache-Dan Monaghan: The “Festival of the Cranes” each fall is the best-known event centered on this beautiful National Wildlife Refuge along the Rio Grande. Each winter thousands of Sandhill Cranes, and tens of thousands of Snow Geese call this land of marsh and grain-filled fields home. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

Bosque Fog-James Orr: The early morning mist off the many ponds within Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge gives the rising sun a soft glow. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

Bosque Pond & Geese-Dan Monaghan: Snow Geese carpet a pond at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge south of Socorro, NM. Each autumn migrating birds descend upon Bosque del Apache. These Snow Geese arrive by the tens of thousands to enjoy the warm weather and abundant food. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

Bosque Pond-James Orr: The waters of the Rio Grande fill acre after acre of wetland ponds within New Mexico’s Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge south of Socorro. Every year these ponds host tens of thousands of migrating waterfowl. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

Bosque Resting Birds-Dan Monaghan: A gathering of cormorants takes advantage of the perch created by a submerged tree at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

Bosque Sandhill Cranes 1, 2, 3-James Orr, -Dan Monaghan: These large birds winter at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in the tens of thousands. Their flights in formation decorate the Rio Grande corridor each fall and spring, and their unique honking sounds provide unique background music for the large refuge. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

Bosque Sky-Dan Monaghan: Tens of thousands of Snow Geese call New Mexico’s Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge home each fall and winter. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

Bosque Wiley Coyotes-James Orr: Always-alert coyotes roam the fringes of the grain fields at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge south of Socorro, NM. Unlike their cartoon counterpart, these coyotes aren’t seeking a meal of roadrunner. They prey primarily on the weaker, lame or sick waterfowl that flock to the refuge each autumn. On El Camino Real National Scenic Byway.

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