A wintering ground for migratory waterfowl, this is a federal wildlife preserve adjacent to the Rio Grande. It was cold - so birds weren't very active and there was a skin of ice on the ponds, so the often dramatic fly-ins and fly-outs were limited. But the colors and drama of the landscape make the place visually exciting.
Snow geese are big visitors - and they were huddled on one of the open ponds for warmth . Then as we were on the other side of reserve we saw this mass of white fluttering as the huge flock took-off and went to adjacent pond.
The other winter stalwart - Sandhill Cranes
A bald eagle
A fly-in - ducks, geese and cranes. It is humorous to watch the cranes put down their "landing gear". The birds overnight in the ponds as it is safer than to be on land - prey to the roaming coyotes and mountain lions....this last a recent park visitor.
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