Our Volunteer Experience at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

San Antonio, NM (weather is improving high 70 low 40 degrees, blue skies)

Bosque del Apache Visitor Center

We have spent the past four months at a beautiful Fish and Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico called Bosque del Apache. It's a gem and a birders paradise. Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese spend the winter here plus lots of duck, eagles, hawks, and other birds. We got here just before the Festival of the Cranes which draws in lots of birders, photographers, and nature lovers. So what has it been like to volunteer here?  This post will give you a glimpse into our experience.

John and I at the Visitor Center desk

We volunteer three days a week in exchange for our campsite. My responsibilities have included working at the visitor center and roving out on the refuge. This refuge has about 200,000 visitors annually and most come during the time we have been here. 

Bird feeders are visited frequently by our feathered friends.

Part of my responsibility include greeting visitors and talking to them about the refuge and where they may be able to see the "fly in and/or fly out".  This emotional and exhilarating experience occurs around sunset and sunrise each day when the cranes and geese leave the ponds and return each evening. It's an amazing wildlife moment. The geese actually lift off or return in huge flocks all at one time. Thousands of them often times swirl around you in a snow globe fashion.

Snow Geese coming in for the night to roost on the pond

Part of the visitor center responsibilities include opening and closing the center. There is some small housekeeping tasks and money is balanced for the passes and entry fees sold. Bird feeders need to be filled often and weather information is recorded along with how many visitors came into the center. The American Flag is raised and lowered each day and some of the displays need to be turned on or off. We all help with these tasks and there is a very detailed check list which explains how to do everything. We have been very impressed with how well everything is thought out and explained. A ranger is always available if you need assistance with a visitors question.  We also go to the Post Office to pick up mail and packages. Our orientation at the beginning was very well done and the best we have received.

There is a nice Nature Store in the center. We do not work in this area but sure like shopping here. We get a small discount off of merchandise and a gift certificate to use at the end of obligation. Nice!

Danielle demonstrates one her favorite puppets. 

Roving involves taking out one of the federal vehicles and driving around the auto loops.  We talk to visitors and monitor  restricted areas to be sure they are not entered. If there are violations we contact refuge staff. We also set up spotting scopes for the visitors to see the birds up close. Many of the visitor have phenomenal camera equipment and have been here numerous times.  We also stop at the bathrooms to be sure they are well stocked and clean. In addition, we refill trail maps at the trail head. Roving also helps us be able to know where and what birds are being seen so this information can be conveyed at the visitor center.

Sandhill Canes

John has volunteered at the fee booth. He collects entry fees or checks passes and also distributes maps of the auto loop. He also roves each day. We are in good communication with the visitor center when we are roving so the most up to date information can be given out to visitors. 

Our site

Volunteer Loung

Our site is a 50 amp full hook up site. It's gravel and the sites are well spaced. There are 16 sites here. A great benefit is the volunteer lounge with a big TV and comfy couches. There is also a huge kitchen we have all utilized. Laundry facilities and a shower are available if needed. Lots of pot lucks have been organized and oftentimes we meet to play board or card games. This lounge really helps volunteers interact and we have had some fun times together and made some really great friends. Now that's definitely a great perk. 

Lending library

Kitchen and eating area

One of many potlucks

The weather can be quite chilly especially in December and January. We added heater tape to our water hose and oftentimes need to use our propane to heat. We also bought an oscillating electric heater to supplement. Average temperatures during this time can be in the low 20's and high 40's. We wore a warm coat, mittens, hat, and long underwear most of the time. The refuge does replenish your propane which is very nice. There is WYFI but very poor. I needed to use my own Verizon hotspot most of the time. Verizon phone signal is great. 

The closest grocery store is about 20 minutes away in Socorro. There are some nice restaurants here too. Post office is only 8 miles away in San Antonio with limited hours and friendly staff. There is also a Walmart in Socorro and a good auto service shop. There is no movie theatre .  The closest one is in Albuquerque about 80 miles away. We do go there often to shop for groceries at the military base and all the conveniences such as  Costco/Sams Club, and Traders Joe for three buck Chuck!  

Refrigerator for use by volunteers 

Laundry

New Mexico is a beautiful state and the refuge being centrally located has enabled us to make lots of fun day and weekend trips.  For the first time we have stayed in B&B's and inns rather than moving the motorhome. We traveled often with Bob and Amy a volunteer couple here at the refuge. We have had some great time together exploring, hiking, and have shared lots and lots of laughs.  

Our recent visit to Santa Fe and Tent Rock National Monument was beautiful. Snow fell while we were there  and it was so pretty. 

Amy and Bob and Tent Rocks

Tent Rock National Monument overlook

John and Bob at Lorenzo Caverns

Audobon Nature Center Santa Fe with Bob and Amy

We have met many interesting visitors and have made some lasting friendships here. It's been an awesome experience and although we are ready to be on the road again it's difficult to leave. This is a special place.  If you are interested in volunteering here be sure to watch for their opportunities on www.volunteer.gov website.  They use volunteers year round and we'd highly recommend this refuge. We'd like to thank all the staff for making this such a great experience. We will miss the call of the Sandhill Crane and will certainly be back again soon.

Weekend Getaways and Bosque del Apache Updates

San Antonio, NM (high 52 degrees high, 30 degrees low)

"Friends are the siblings

God never gave us"

Mensius

Traveling with old friends and new we have had lots of fun visiting  several nearby place for a quick getaway. New Mexico is a gem and there are some interesting places to visit within a few hours of Bosque del Apache NWR  Come along and read about a few of the highlights.  

Carlsbad National Park and Christmas on the Pecos

A photo was taken of all of us participating in the tour 

One weekend we planned with Bob and Amy (volunteers at Bosque) a visit to Carlsbad National Park and attended a Rock of Ages Candle Lantern Tour. It is offered by the park two weekends a year in December and sells out quickly. It's a throw back to how people used to first visit the caverns when it first opened. We each carried a lantern through the Big Room and the regular lights were off. Consumed Park staff met us along the route and  reenacted some of the original people who helped start this park such as the colorful Colonel Thomas Boles. After traveling through most of the room we then blew out our candles and one of the park rangers sang Rock of Ages. Her beautiful voice echoed through the cavern. The lights were then turned on and we traveled back through the Big Room marveling at some of the features we had missed. 

We stayed at a pretty bed and breakfast in Carlsbad called Fiddlers Inn. It was a nice inn and we loved the outdoor hot tub decked with twinkle lights at night. 

Our two bedroom suite was on the right

The next evening we went downtown and took a forty-five minute pontoon boat ride down the Pecos River. Most of the homes along the river had pretty Christmas light displays. This tour is offered by the city and it reimburses the owners for their electric bill if they participate. The warm blankets provided came in handy and we really enjoyed it.

Christmas on the Pecos

Smokey the Bear's grave site

Along the way we stopped at Smokey the Bear Historical Site in Capitan. It's an interesting stop run by the New Mexico State Forestry Division and is the  burial site of the very famous bear who helped educate all of us about forest fires.

Bitter lake Visitor Center

We also visited another refuge called Bitter Lake where Lesser Sandhill Cranes spend the winter. It's a quiet refuge with a nice visitor center. We were thrilled to see an American Bitern out in the open.



This secretive bird is usually very hard to find and gave us some great views. They usually spend most of their time pretending to be a blade of grass. The highlight was seeing a Red Fox chasing after some quail. He was a beauty to behold. 

American Biter

Red Fox on the hunt for quail

John and I

Albuquerque

We have also visited Albuquerque a couple of times. It's a great city with so much to see. We came here when our friends Fran and Randy visited and returned again to celebrate Christmas with two volunteer couples (Bob & Amy and Bill & Julie).

Being here for Christmas was a delight. Our first stop was a delicious lunch at the beautiful El Pinto Restaurant. Each room in this huge place is beautifully decorated and many have fireplaces. Everything was fresh and well prepared and their salsa is amazing. We will definitely return here again. 

El Pinto Restaurant

Bill and Julie (from Oregon)

Bob and Amy (from Tennessee)

Home decorated with luminaries

Luminary displays are a tradition in New Mexico on Christmas Eve. Amy had met someone at the refuge who recommended a certain neighborhood for us to tour. We found it easily and were amazed at the thousands of luminaries which lit each road, home, and sidewalk. Afterwards we headed to Old Town and luckily snagged a parking spot. It's a very popular place to be on Christmas eve. We really enjoyed a  parade of bicycles decorated with lights and a huge Christmas tree made from 150 trees. 

We walked past the shops and weaved in and out of this area. There were also luminaries  and many of the art galleries  had beautiful fireplaces and snacks for customers. 

This tree was make from water bottles and LED lights

On Sunday we attended church and then went to a fun movie theater to see the new Star War's movie -Rogue One. The movie theater called Flix Brewhouse brings food and beverages right to your seat in the theater.  They even brew their own beer.  The movie was great and we were all exhausted from the non stop action. Amy did most of the planning for this weekend getaway and it was a perfect way to celebrate Christmas in this beautiful city.

On an earlier visit we went to the River of Lights at the ABQ BioPark Botanical Gardens. There were over 500 displays and millions of lights in this park. Each area we walked through was stunning. I can't imagine how long took to put this all together. We loved it!

River of Lights

Amy, Bob, Randy, Fran, and John

Sandia Crest

Randy and Fran are the couple who first introduced us to birding. They suggested we go to the top of the Sandia Mountain to see the Rosy Finches. The weather cooperated the day we drove up and up and up. There was some snow at the top and sure enough at the bird feeders we saw the Brown Capped and Black Rosy Finches. The views from the top were spectacular. We were all very pleased to see the birds and they told us we could return in January to help band them if we were interested. Sweet!

Steller's Jay

Rosy Finches

Life at the Refuge

What? Haven't you heard of goose for Christmas

We continue to really like volunteering at Bosque del Apache NWR In early December the refuge organized an open house and luminary display at the Visitor Center and Friend's House.

John and I at the information desk

After the Sandhill Cranes flew in for the night everyone was invited to enjoy some music and sample traditional New Mexican food and cookies. It was the first time the refuge put on such an event and there was a great turn out.

Potlucks are a tradition here each Tuesday at the Volunteer Village. We have some great cooks and oftentimes we play games and cards afterwards. The good fellowship with our new friends is priceless. 

A crew from National Geographic (Nat Geo) was here for three weeks filming three upcoming episodes called "Untamed with Filipe DeAndrade" which will premiere in March. We all enjoyed spending time with them and their enthusiasm for this refuge and the wild places was inspiring. I'll keep you posted when it airs.

National Geographic Crew

Immature Bald Eagle getting ready to fly

The Sandhill Crane population has steadily increased and there are probably about 12,000 here now. That's a lot of cranes. We also have many Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk sightings.

Eight Tundra Swans flew in last week and have really delighted everyone. The Sandhill Cranes below seemed very confused with their appearance.  What a huge bird.

Tundra Swans

Javelina's huddling under a bush

Javelina's are frequently seen here by everyone but me. Finally last week I saw a group of eight and two babies.

A rare sighting of a Long-tailed Duck is causing quite a commotion. This duck should not be in this area at all and is usually only seen along the coast. It spends most of it's time underwater and getting a picture of it can be a challenge. It sure looks like it's having a great time out there.

Juvenile Long-tailed Duck (photo taken by John Olson)

Sunrises and sunsets are so beautiful here. I'll end the post with this photo for you to enjoy. We feel blessed to be here and really enjoyed these getaways with our new and old cherished friends. Life is good. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and safe travels!