Bosque del Apache
National Wildlife Refuge • New Mexico
Bosque del Apache, NWR
90 minutes drive south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bosque del Apache NWR, or “Bosque” for short, is one of the United States’ most famous National Wildlife Refuges for birders. Mid November through late January, thousands of Snow Geese, Ross’s geese, and Sandhill Cranes winter in the refuge making the month of December the most popular for visitors and photographers. The trip is well worth it if you can brave the temperatures. It is well below freezing at sunrise and just above the rest of the day!
All images are ©Copyright: Rich Rijnders Photography
Blue Heron Strike
Bosque del Apache, NWR
When the large flocks of migratory birds arrive, other species that inhabit the refuge move to the outlying ponds and lakes. Here, a Blue Heron strikes at a passing fish. A pure white cover of low clouds in the freezing weather reflects brightly in the calm surface of the water, giving this image an almost painterly effect.
(click image to enlarge)
Bosque Doe Crossing
Bosque del Apache, NWR
Although birds are definitely the highlight of Bosque in the winter, taking the back roads away from the lakes is a good way to spot some of the other residents of the refuge. Here, a doe crosses the road to join the rest of her group. In winter, Bosque still retains some of the fall colors, making excellent scenery.
Snow Geese Blast-Off
Bosque del Apache, NWR
The stars of the winter show in Bosque are the Snow Geese. Flocks of hundreds gather into thousands in the refuge. Here, a smaller group during the day performs one of their “blast-off” launches. An event where the entire flock takes to flight from the water simultaneously.
(click image to enlarge)
Bosque Morning Fly-In
Bosque del Apache, NWR
Flocks of hundreds of Snow Geese may roost on different ponds and lakes overnight, but just before sunrise all the different flocks fly-in to the main lake and settle on the ice covered water by the thousands. This is an area known as the “Flight Deck”, named for the viewing platform built there. In this image, several flocks of the geese fly-in just before sunrise to gather with those already roosting on the waters. By the time the sun rises, thousands of geese will blanket the surface of the water.
Chilly Sunrise Blast-Off
Bosque del Apache, NWR
With a thin film of ice covering the lake in the foreground, thousands of Snow Geese simultaneously launch themselves into the 14ºf air in what is know as the Sunrise Blast-Off in Bosque. They may blast-off, circle, settle, and then blast-off again several times as the sun rises. The sound of beating wings against the water is like a rumbling freight train during these events. Visitors and photographers jump as the sound reaches them and then, a moment later, the rising geese become visible against the sunrise, almost completely blotting it out!
(click image to enlarge)
Bosque Morning Blast-Off
Bosque del Apache, NWR
(Below) On the mornig of this image it was still only 19ºf but the sky was less overcast and more crisp. The morning fly-in was well before sunrise, so the Snow Geese were well settled and quiet as sunrise approached. In the dark, as visitors arrived and photographers set up their gear, it wasn’t clear if there were many (or any) geese on the water. But as the sun began to rise people became more excited as the blanket of many thousands of geese became visible on the waters surface. Then, in the midst of the building tension that familiar rumble of beating wings began to rise and then the horizon burst into activity with the first and only blast-off of this day.
Synchronized Cranes
Bosque del Apache, NWR
Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes also winter in the refuge. They are not water birds, so you will not find them in or around the lakes and you will need to look for them. One good bet during the early morning hours is to check the meadows around the corn fields on the north side of the refuge.
Sandhill Cranes mate for life and the pairings and family units are easy to spot, even among the flocks of hundreds. They stay very close together and are so well matched that even their flying looks like a synchronized ballet!
(click image to enlarge)
Snow Geese and Cranes in Corn Fields
Bosque del Apache, NWR
If you are not the sunrise type, then the north corn fields in the later morning hours is always a good bet to find flocks of the migratory birds. Both the Snow Geese and the Sandhill Cranes will gather in large numbers to pick through the husks and feed.
(click image to enlarge)
Snow Geese Over Corn Fields
Bosque del Apache, NWR
Even during the day, if you are patient (and lucky) smaller flocks of Geese will perform “Mini” Blast-Offs. In this image, hundreds of Snow Geese blast-off simultaneously from the corn fields to fly to outlying areas. Not quite as loud or dramatic as the sunrise events, but impressive, still. The birds which remain on the ground are Sandhill Cranes, who stay amazingly calm during these chaotic events.
(click image to enlarge)
The VLA (Very Large Array)
(National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Although not part of the NWR, for me no trip to Bosque is complete without a half-day excursion to The VLA. Made famous in movies such as “Contact” (Warner Bros. 1997), this huge installation of radio tellescopes has a visitor’s center, guided and self-guided tours, informational theater, and gift shop.
It is in a “radio dead zone” so you are admonished by signage as you get near the facility to turn off any cellular devices. They won’t work, anyway so you may as well! Several times per year they schedule nights where photographers are welcomed to come photograph the night skys. Well worth the detour!
