A Visit To The Spectacular Bosque del Apache NWR

(San Antonio, NM)  56 degrees, clear blue skies, windy

Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes

We packed up the motorhome and left White Sands National Monument for the weekend.  We have Friday-Sunday off each week and had heard about a bird watching rally that was about 2 hours away.  While we were at the FMCA rally in Farmington we joined a local club (Cuatro Estados) that has rallies in the four corners area.  We were very impressed with the campouts that were  planned for 2012 and decided to join.  This is a very active club and they offer lots of activities and side trips.   

We arrived at the Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park.  It is a very basic campground with full hook ups (mostly 30 amp).  Sites are gravel and level with very few amenities.  However, it is very convenient to the wildlife park and only $20/night.  We then drove out to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Park and went to the visitors center to get some information.  We were greeted by a very friendly volunteer who told us all about the area and where to find the birds.  There was also a very interesting 15 minute movie and a gift shop with everything a birder could ever need. 

Irrigation canals

This park has 15 RV campsites and three apartments designated for their volunteers.  It is a very active and popular program.  You need to apply in March for the winter season and it requires a four month commitment. 

The best time to visit this park is November - February.  The sandhill cranes, white snow geese, and lots of ducks have started to arrive for the winter.  The goal of refuge management is to provide habitat and protection for migratory birds and endangered species and provide the public with a high quality wildlife and educational experience.  There is a 15 mile loop to drive around the area and view the birds.  There are numerous decks to walk out onto and they also suggested using your car as a blind.  The park encompasses 12,900 acres.

Snow geese



Mule Deer

We saw irrigation canals that provide water flow and flood certain fields on a rotation basis.  Daily monitoring, mowing, and clearing keeps them functioning. The movie told us that the water levels are lowered to  create moist fields and promotes growth of native marsh plants. Marsh management is rotated so that varied habitats are always available. When mature marsh conditions are reached, the cycle is repeated. Local farmers and the refuge staff grow crops to feed and attract the birds.  This park was instrumental in saving the whopping crane from extinction. 




Angry Red Tailed Hawk

The best time to arrive is before dawn or just before sunset.  This is when the birds take off for the day and return to roost at night.  It is spectacular!  In the evening the sandhill cranes arrive in small groups announcing their arrival with lots of strange honks.   We were told that the birds trachea is 40 inches long and waves back and forth in its throat creating a very squeaky sound.  They are a very large bird but land very delicately in the water.

Sandhill cranes landing

Soon after the sandhill cranes are settled the snow geese come in.  They arrive all at one time and it is really hard to describe in words how amazing this site was to behold.  It is almost spiritual and something we will always remember.  Over 1500 birds landed all at one time in a matter of a few minutes. 

We went back the next morning and were greeted by this double rainbow.  It was beautiful and lasted a very long time.  What a great time we had here.  Next weekend is their big event where over 50,000 people arrive for the Annual Festival of the Cranes.  It is held each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving.  There will be lots of seminars and tours and reservations are made in September.  However, there were very small crowds this weekend.  I think we timed this just about right. 

We also made a side trip out to the Very Large Array.  I'll tell you more about that strange place in our next post.

Volunteering At White Sands National Monument

(White Sands, New Mexico) 68 degrees, blue cloudless skies

We have arrived at White Sands National Monument (part of the National Park system) and will be volunteering here until December 31st.  It is such a spectacular place and we are so thrilled with this opportunity.  We had planned to visit our friends who are volunteering here  after the balloon fiesta.  John and Eileen were our NOMADS leaders in Eustis Florida  last winter. 

Eileen and John

About a week before we were to arrive Eileen called and said "what are  you doing after your visit to White Sands?  Would you like to volunteer here for awhile".  Our answer was an immediate yes!  A couple that had signed up to be here had cancelled.  We quickly filled out all the paper work and talked to Becky, the Interpretive Coordinator.  In return for our site we will work four days a week with Friday - Sunday off. 

John will work out in the dune fields repairing fences and removing invasive plants (Tamarisk).  He will also do maintenance around the park.  I will work two days a week in the administration office helping organize the files and the other two days I'll work in the visitor center and give a sunset stroll in the evening.  It is a great opportunity for us and we are so grateful to our friends for recommending us. 

We arrived just in time to go on Eileen's sunset stroll. She has volunteered here for seven years and it is her favorite place on earth. Both she and John and have immersed themselves into understanding the dunes, wildlife, and plants that make up this special park. They were so knowledgeable and their love for this place is so evident.

Eileen beginning stroll

The sunset stroll lasts about an  hour.  This is something I will have to do in about two weeks.  Yikes!  I have a lot to learn.  She told us these are the largest gypsum sand dunes in the world.  We walked up and down three dunes as she told us about how the dunes are made.  She also identified  tracks of little animals in the dunes and told us about the plant life and how it has adapted to live in this tough desert.

Eileen had us dig in the sand and just a few inches below the surface we found that the sand was damp.  Amazing!  Water can also be found just 20 inches below the surface and this is one of the reason why the sand dunes have not blown away.  The damp sand sort of acts like a glue and only the surface sand moves.

So, how are these dunes get here?  Eileen explained that the dunes sit within the Tularosa Basin.  It does not have any outlet such as  stream or river. Usually gypsum just washes away but this special place keeps that from happening. It's like a great big bowl.

Gypsum liquefies in the surrounding mountains and flows down into the lake bed.  Over time the gypsum forms into crystals.  The wind, freezing temperatures, and collision of the gypsum crystals break down and eventually it all crumble and becomes this beautiful white sand. 

Here is a cottonwood tree that is trying to ride the sand wave.  Some of the roots are above the sand and the trunk is inside this sand dune  and started in the interdunal area (where the people are walking). It manages to live and ride the wave as the dune passes.  The tree may or may not survive after the dune passes. Sand dunes are always moving.  They can travel in some areas over 37 feet a year and others move only a few inches. 

Skunk sumac atop a pedestal

This beautiful pedestal may survive several dune passing.  The sumac (and other plants) can create these as the dune passes due to pressure, water, and roots creating almost a concrete substance.  Most of the wildlife hang out here.  The largest mammal is the kit fox.  He is about the size of chiwawa and weighs only four pounds.  He munches on mice, lizards, and kangaroo rats.  Larger animals usually do not live here.  There is not enough to eat and very little water. 

As the dune passes it leaves these cool footprints.   It is easy to tell where the huge dune has been and it's future travel. 

Dune footprints

Eileen's tour ended at the top of the dune just in time for sunset.  Perfect ending!  What a special place.  Check back soon to read more about this very special National Monument.