The Cranes Have Arrived!!

It's the middle of October and still the government is shut down.  But the birds don't know.  I stopped at the viewing kiosk on the north end of the bosque which is not closed off to the public like all the trails inside the area.  There was water in the field beyond the kiosk which is normally dry.  We haven't had any rain so obviously the rangers had to have flooded the field.  Of course the Canada Geese were there and lots of mallards and susies.  I saw a big spot of white which with my binoculars I was able to identify as the first snow geese of the fall.  Thinking I was done I started to leave until I noticed some movement near the back of the field.  Yep, there they were.  The first Sandhill Cranes of the year.  One pair feeding along the back of the field.  Talked with another birder who had stopped to see the snow geese and also hadn't noticed the cranes at first.  Finally I went home wondering if the canes will continue to come since the rangers aren't allowed to work in the refuge knocking down the corn fields that the cranes feed on.  Then yesterday I stopped at the same spot on my way home and watched as wave after wave of cranes flew in.  By dusk there were at least 200-300 cranes in the field.  OK Washington.  Get your act together so we can feed the birds!

Up, Up, and Away

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f you ever get the chance to travel to New Mexico in October, be sure to check out the hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque.  It's a 90 minute drive from my campsite at the bosque, but so worth it.  The festival lasts 10 days and I tried to content myself with watching live coverage on the local news show each morning.  Finally I couldn't stand it, so I drove up to the big city on the day of the shape balloon contests.  I arrived about 2 hours before dusk and walked around the field seeing all the signs and talking with the crews.  That's the great thing about the festival.  Not only do you get up close and personal with the balloons, but you also get to talk directly with the crews.

Just as light was fading the aprons started rolling out.  That's the term for large tarps spread out on the bare ground to protect the balloons as they are unfurled and inflated.  Soon crews were scrambling around with fans and tethers and all sorts of ballooning gear.  The red, white, and blue rocket ship was first up and joined quickly by Peg Leg Pete and then Chica.

All the while guests walked in and around the aprons watching and taking pix.  By the time I left there were somewhere in the number of 60 shape balloons in the "glodeo".  That's what they call when all these balloons are tethered on the ground but glowing with the flames of their firing hot gases to keep the shape open.  I left before the fireworks show thinking I would be able to see that from the r
emote parking area and be ahead of the traffic to start my drive back home.  It was a beautiful night and I'm glad I got to see it.  Next step?  Ride in one of those babies over the city.  Why not?!

Welcome to the Bosque

I have finally arrived at my home for this winter -

My office

Some of my neighbors

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico.  The weather is nice for early fall: low 80s in the afternoon and cool evenings in the 50s.  My walk to work from the volunteer camp takes about 2 minutes and is interrupted only by the bugling elk herd in the field to the north.  I work three days a week in the visitor center or out roving the refuge.  On my first day I saw 5 female mule deer, a flock of long billed dowitchers, a few white pelicans, and a six foot rattlesnake sunning himself in the road.  In the afternoon I return home to Seeker to check email and listen to what sounds like a large croaking frog.  Instead I find that a local Chihuahuan Raven has taken a post on top of the utility pole behind my parking spot.  I have
accepted the fact that he was here first and named him Edgar.  I hope he eats the mosquitoes that are still around and large enough to saddle.  Right now with the cool nights I love to sleep with my window open and even gotten used to the serenade of a local night owl.  I love everything about my new home except the government shut down that has idled us all.


The rangers have asked us to just hang out and wait for the reopening so I guess I'll do some exploring.  Sadly the refuge that I would like to explore is off limits to us all right now.  But I'm sure I'll find something to do.