![\"dogs-2-medium\"](\"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Dogs-2-Medium.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWe met with Bud & Barbara at their trailer near Truth or Consequences, NM.\u00a0 (Yes, it IS the real name of a real town!)\u00a0 Together we visited the Geronimo Springs Museum \u2013 a delightful mixture of town history, early Americana, and Native American artifacts.\u00a0 Their collections of pottery & points were amazing!\u00a0 The cracked & broken pots under the display table would have made many musuems jealous!<\/p>\n
The Refuge was created in 1939 to attempt to recover from the effects of habitat loss along the Rio Grande River.\u00a0 \u00a0It had been the historic wintering ground for thousands of Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, and other water fowl, but the dams and channels constructed along the river had destroyed all of this habitat.\u00a0 The numbers of cranes had dwindled from thousands in the later 1800’s to only 17 migrating cranes.\u00a0 Funds from federal \u201cduck stamps\u201d purchased the land, and this refuge is now one of the most highly managed wetlands in the nation. \u00a0We are now the winter home to many thousands of cranes (5,000 \u2013 15,000), snow geese (30,000 \u2013 50,000), and ducks (too many to count!)<\/p>\n We have hundreds of pictures of these magnificent birds and this beautiful refuge, but I won\u2019t subject you to \u201call\u201d of them.\u00a0 Here are a few of our favorites.<\/p>\n Mark was “Smokey”<\/p>\n Snow Geese & Super Moon – Nov. 2016<\/p>\n Snow Geese: Osprey Moon over the Refuge Javalina Sandhill Cranes Beauty of the Refuge We have had fun with the other volunteers here at Bosque del Apache.\u00a0 SO many interesting backgrounds and experiences!\u00a0 Such sweet people!\u00a0 However, we will save more on that for another day\u2026.<\/p>\n Next Post<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Previous Post<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After having run around New Mexico, trying to partake of all the sights in a whirlwind of activity, we have settled down to enjoy our current home \u2013 Bosque del Apache NWR, and to enjoy the company of some of our new friends. We have spent time with new friends, both from the Refuge and … Continue reading Hanging around the Refuge – Birds & Friends<\/span> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>\u00a0Red-tail Hawk<\/a>\u00a0Pintail Duck<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0White-tailed Kite:<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>\u00a0<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a>\u00a0Deer crossing the Crane Pond<\/a>\u00a0Cranes flying in for the night:<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n