This past Wednesday, my good friends Edna and Mike Shirley and I went to the Bosque de Apache National Wildlife Refuge, about 15-20 miles south of Lemitar. Edna and Mike were visiting and stayed with me for several days. The first thing they did was completely empty Matilda of all my stuff, most of which is still sitting in the living room. But I am making headway. Mike was most helpful doing various repairs in the house. Edna and I sorted through "stuff" and Wednesday morning we filled up Matilda with all the rubbish we had ready, and went to the Socorro County dump, an experience in itself. Then we headed for the Bosque which is close to San Antonio, NM.

It is a huge refuge. The visitor's center is wonderful, and we watched a most interesting and informative movie about how the Bosque came to be, as well as how it is maintained now. It is hard to explain in a few words, and I suggest that any of you who want to know more, go to Google and put in Bosque de Apache Refuge. I haven't figured out yet how to put in links!!!

Anyway, the Bosque Refuge is a winter headquarters for Sand Hill Cranes coming from the north, White Geese, and numerous other wild fowl. Here they spend the winter, and fill up on foods which will enable them in the spring to fly north to their summer headquarters. In November, the town of Socorro in conjunction with many other organizations, and the Refuge, have a five day fiesta honoring the Sand Hill Cranes, who by that time have increased their numbers to over 10,000. The Sand Hill Cranes are so honored because they have made a remarkable comeback in recent years. This area has always been a natural flyway for all types of birds, but the natural marches and lagoons coming from the Rio Grande River, were filled and used as ranch land. The land then was given to the Nature Conservancy, who in turn donated it for
reclamation and use by the Bosque de Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

This little guy was taking advantage of the warm sun. Looking at the picture, it seemed like his skin was flecked with the same blue he was sunning on...

We got back into Matilda and took the car tour route. The first wildlife we saw was a hawk who was flying close over a field. We stopped at The Lagoon, which has a boardwalk out into it, as well as walking paths which connect up with it. And there, in front of us, was a Sand Hill Crane (the first one I have ever seen) fishing for lunch...

Out on a mud island, were Canada Geese and some other waterfowl...

As we walked on the boardwalk, we saw numerous turtles taking advantage of the sun..

There were only two sand cranes around that day. I plan to make weekly visits and take pictures as they gather. I may even go there this afternoon, later on, and see if the numbers are increasing. Everyone around here says that most of the birds who stay for the winter, come in late October-early November.

These pictures are taken from the boardwalk looking at both sides...

Edna pointing out something...

Mike had gone off the boardwalk and onto the marsh path, and then returned.

Edna and Mike...

As we were walking off the boardwalk, one of the Sand Hill Cranes relocated to the other side. I guess he thought the fishing would be better. It certainly wasn't because of crowding!

We got back into Matilda and finished the car route, seeing no more wildlife. The Bosque is filled with animals as well as birds. There are cougars, bobcats, coyotes, deer, porcina, and other smaller animals. At the visitor center, the greeter told us that there are even some oryx from Africa. No one knows where they came from, but they are growing and have become a nuisance because they are destroying the plant life for others. We were told the rattlesnakes are headed back to their dens for the winter. Many of them have chips embedded in them so they can be kept track of and studied. Like so many other areas in the U.S., there is an invasive tree that is taking over, and volunteers and employees alike are doing their best to eradicate it, as it is taking over from the aspens and other native species along the water ways of the Bosque.

More about the Bosque as I get pictures.

I love you all.
A Hui Hou,
Sally