Every year in November, thousands of sandhill cranes migrate from Canada and the northern United States to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Our visit to New Mexico coincided perfectly with that migration. It was an excellent low-energy trip, allowing Anna to see lots of wildlife without walking and worsening her symptoms. We spent portions of three days at the refuge.
Before the trip we purchased a better zoom camera. The long telephoto lens made it much easier to photograph birds without spooking them. Copious wildlife activity meant we got plenty of practice with the new camera’s controls and features.
Bosque del Apache is situated next to the Rio Grande, along the migration path of many bird species. With many natural sources of food, water, and protected habitat disappearing over time, Bosque del Apache plays a key role in the success and survival of the birds that pass through each year. Refuge staff carefully manage water flows and crop fields to provide the right food at the right time for each species when it arrives.
This short video conveys the sheer quantity of birds that visit Bosque del Apache. It was so cool to watch:
We signed up in advance for a free van tour of the refuge. The tours are led by enthusiastic, knowledgeable volunteers. Spotting and identifying new bird species is much easier when you have an expert pointing them out! We felt like we were on a North American safari.
We also explored the refuge on our own. We drove more slowly, and sat and waited longer than most other visitors. As a result, we saw all kinds of birds and other creatures we would have otherwise missed. Patience is always a virtue, but that goes double for wildlife viewing.
In addition to the birds and animals pictured here, we saw many others we failed to capture well: a bald eagle, javelina (a pig-like animal also known as a peccary), roadrunner, American white pelican, bufflehead, cattle egret, long-billed dowitcher, northern shoveler, ruddy duck, northern harrier, meadowlark, softshell turtle, and more.
When the cranes started to arrive, it felt like a great performance had begun.
We played around with our new zoom camera to capture some footage of the cranes’ graceful motion and boisterous calls. Here’s a short video we created from the clips:
Spending time with thousands of beautiful birds was a unique and wonderful experience for us. We hope some of this experience came across in the post. Happy Thanksgiving!
Wandering the Wild 
OMG, Anna and Chris,
I too, love to watch 🦅 in nature, but this was beyond the beyond‼️And how you arranged for the amazing sky: quite breathtaking.
Thank you 🙏🏻
Ginny Zimmerman
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Thank you Ginny! We’re so glad to pass along some of this spectacle through our photos and videos. And the setting really was perfect.
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Anna and Chris, thank you for sharing this experience! It makes my heart sing! I have to add this refuge to my road trip list for next fall/winter. I am thankful for people like you and Chris and for what you bring to our community!💫
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Thanks Audrey! That’s a great time to visit Bosque del Apache. Hope you’re doing well. :-)
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Thanks, Anna and Chris. And happy Thanksgiving to you both as well!
Love you,
Aunt Marilyn and Bob
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You’re welcome Marilyn! Wishing you and Bob all kinds of holiday cheer.
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Fabulous photos! Thanks so much for sharing such a remarkable experience.
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Thanks Barb, it’s our pleasure!
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Those two Sandhills cranes backlit!! And the earlier film of geese rising into the sky— it was almost like I was swimming on my back underwater, watching bubbles popping on the surface!
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That’s a cool comparison, Margaret. Their motion is really interesting to watch!
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I met you both
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Yes, we met you in Washington during our thru hike, right? Thanks for ordering a PCT book!
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Wonderful footage and photos!
How close were you to the birds? Since you were zooming in, I don’t have a sense of that.
I’m struck by how noisy it must have been at times when the flocks returned to roost in the evening.
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Thanks Jane! We were close enough that we could enjoy watching the cranes with our naked eyes. But our zoom camera and binoculars definitely helped to see more detail. The sound of all those birds was indeed very intense and beautiful too!
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Wow! What an experience this must’ve been. Who knew you could do a safari right here in America? I especially love the videos — they really capture the movement and sounds of these amazing birds. Extraordinary!!
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We’re heartened to know that places like this exist in America, where land is preserved and people work hard to support unique and beautiful wildlife. So nice to have this just one state away. Glad you like the videos too!
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I’m excited to see some sand Hill cranes on our area a couple weekends from now. Thank you for sharing this beauty! The zoom lens sounds like a wonderful way to insure you to sit and capture the wildlife. Lots of love to you. Tonight we have predicted 18 inches of snow. Hope you both are warm and happy.
Love, Mags
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How cool that you get to see the cranes nearby! Earlier today we heard that unmistakeable call, looked out the window, and saw some cranes fly high above. We’ve never seen them land in this area though. Lots of love to you too, Mags.
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Hi Anna and Chris, I have a old friend who just had a decade birthday, who has been an avid birdwatcher all his life. I would like to purchase a copy of the sandhill crane landing with wings spread. I’d like an 11 x 14 if possible. Please contact my email and let me know how we can make this happen! Your post about the New Mexico refuge was really delightful. A lovely gift. Thank you,
Judith Ivan
Aunt Marilyn’s long time friend
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Thank you so much for the two PCT book orders and for your interest in the first sandhill crane image, Judith! We’ll send you an email about the print.
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Beatuiful photos Chris. Thanks so much. Aunt Jan
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Thanks Jan! Some photo credit goes to Anna as well on these. :-) Hope you’re enjoying your new home.
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