Established in 1939, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge covers 57,000 acres along the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. A mosaic of irrigated crop fields, wet meadows, riparian woodlands (bosques) and wetlands, the Refuge sits at the north edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and is best known for its huge wintering flocks of snow geese and sandhill cranes.
In addition to the showcase species, winter birders should see Ross's geese, a wide variety of ducks, bald and golden eagles, northern harriers, red-tailed and ferruginous hawks, wild turkey, ring-necked pheasants, greater roadrunners, scaled and Gambel's quail and the usual mix of Southwest winter songbirds. Spring and fall migrations bring ospreys, shorebirds and mountain bluebirds to the Refuge and a variety of herons, rails and bitterns inhabit the preserve during the warmer months. Resident mammals include pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, porcupine, beaver and muskrats.
Bosque del Apache is reached by taking Exit 139 from I-25, 8 miles south of Socorro. Proceed east into San Antonio and turn south on Old Highway 1; the Refuge will be 9 miles ahead. A 15-mile auto tour road is open from dawn to dusk, every day of the year; a second, seasonal loop is open April through September. Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center for an overview of the region's human and natural history.
