A Quick stop in Bosque Del Apache
While on a business trip in New Mexico this January with my husband, we took the opportunity to visit the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. It was a quick trip as we just had one night available to stay in Socorro before having to move on the next day. We arrived mid-afternoon and popped into the visitor center to get the lay-of-the-land. I decided to take a drive around the area to discover exactly what I wanted to focus on. Where I live in southwest Colorado, I regularly see ducks, geese, bald eagles, and a variety of other wonderful birds, but not Sandhill Cranes, so I chose to focus on them since they are less familiar to me.
Bosque del Apache is nestled along the valley carved by the Rio Grande River. This time of year, the valley displays a gorgeous array of warm toned grasses, bushes, and trees that provide a great backdrop for the refuge in the middle of the day as well as throughout blue hour. While there are certain times of year when larger flocks arrive and depart for the season, I discovered the refuge is a delight at any time during the winter months.
There were a few Sandhill Cranes rummaging around in some of the ponds during the day, but it’s right about sunset when the magic happens. A majority of the cranes start to come in for the evening from foraging for food during the day. They arrive from the north, land in the middle of the pond, and wander around chattering like a social gathering. The bright evening sun behind them lit up the silhouettes of their little bodies as it reflected off the water.
The next morning when we arrived before sunrise, it was a chilly 20 degrees. The bushes that surrounded the pond were frosty and a slight mist was rolling off of the water due to the temperature difference. As the light started to touch the land, we could see the cranes in the middle of the pond. Their bodies were still as the ducks moved around them looking for food. We learned the cranes choose bodies of water that are a particular depth so they can stand in it overnight with their bodies hovering just over the top of the water.
As the sunlight became stronger, their still figures came to life. Their heads popped out from their backs where they were tucked away for the night. They flit around for a bit, their chatter filling air. Then they started facing north and slowly made their way to the north end of the pond walking slowly along the water. This ritual feels like a morning parade of sorts…
Other types of birds started to take off and head north and when the sun barely touched the land, the cranes took flight, one-by-one, two-by-two, five-by-five, they flew in little patches, one group right after the other as if it were their turn to depart the runway. They took off to forage for the day. They stop in nearby farmlands to munch on corn, bugs, and more.
Above, we start to see other birds from the nearby ponds start to fill the sky, all of them heading north for the day. It was quite a sight.
