162 Species on this Custom List
To upload the attached Custom list and Quiz yourself on birds that may be seen on this VENT Tour, right-click HERE and select "Save Target As.." (You may want to rename the file Winter_NewMexico.xml)
Jan. 3-Jan. 9, 2008
Snow and Ross's Geese, Bosque del Apache NWR.
Photo: Barry Zimmer Experience the spectacle of huge numbers of wintering waterfowl and cranes at world-famous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Raptors, sparrows, and southwestern specialties will also be plentiful.
The Rio Grande Valley of central and southern New Mexico plays host to an incredible array of wintering bird species each year. Tens of thousands of geese, ducks, and cranes descend on famous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and Caballo and Elephant Butte Reservoirs. Sparrows, the number and variety of which sometimes staggers the imagination, cover the desert grasslands and riparian thickets. Raptors abound, drawn by the abundant prey, with a combined total of 17 hawk and owl species possible. In addition, many southwestern specialties are resident and easily located at this time of year.
Expected species include Clark's and Western grebes; over 20 species of waterfowl (including rafts of Common Mergansers that often exceed 5,000 birds); Ferruginous Hawk; Golden Eagle; Prairie Falcon; Gambel's Quail; Barn and Burrowing owls; Red-naped Sapsucker; Bridled and Juniper titmice; all three bluebirds; Townsend's Solitaire; Sage and Crissal thrashers; Green-tailed Towhee; Black-chinned, Black-throated, Sage, and Brewer's sparrows; and Yellow-headed Blackbird (a roost of more than 8,000 in El Paso).
The highlight of the tour will be a visit to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. In mid-winter, Snow Geese numbers often reach 30,000 and Sandhill Cranes about 10,000 at this wonderful refuge. The tiny Ross's Goose winters in good numbers here as well. Prairie Falcons, and Bald and Golden eagles, patrol the huge waterfowl flocks, often sending thousands of birds into the air at once—a sight that will be forever etched in your memory.
With the abundance of wintering species, a good variety of resident southwestern specialties, and generally pleasant weather conditions, this short winter tour is a must.
Good accommodations; easy to moderate terrain; one uphill hike, otherwise mostly roadside birding; generally mild winter conditions with potentially cold mornings.
To Get (upload) a Custom List from this Forum and add it to your computer:
1. Open the Posting of the Custom List you want to upload to your computer.
2. Right-click on the word "Attachment" at the bottom of the post -- it will be a hyperlink and underlined.
3. Select "Save Target As..." and save to your desktop. (You may want to rename the file - but do not change the .xml file extension)
4. Open your Thayer Birding Software birding program version 3.5 or 3.9.
5. Click the Custom List icon
6. In the upper left corner of the Custom List screen, click on the word File.
7. Click Import. Select the file you just uploaded to your desktop. Click Open.
8. The Custom List will now appear on your computer with your other Custom Lists. (You may rename the Custom List if you like.)
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