The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, which is located in southern New Mexico, xcomes alive with thousands of sandhill cranes, ducks and geese every winter. It is a watery oasis, attracting numerous birds and bird watchers alike. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 130 familiar species of trees and wildflowers, mammals, reptiles and amphibians and birds. Laminated for durability, this lightweight guide is a great source of portable information and ideal for field use by novices and experts alike. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this guide support the ongoing work of the Friends of the Bosque.
Established in 1939 to provide a critical stopover for migrating waterfowl, the refuge is well known for the thousands of sandhill cranes, geese and other waterfowl that winter here each year. Situated between the Chupadera Mountains to the west and the San Pascual Mountains to the east, the 57,331-acre refuge harbors a wild stretch of the Rio Grande, a ribbon of cottonwood and willow trees visible on the landscape from distant mesas. Petroglyphs tell the story of an ancient people that lived and hunted here. The river and its diversity of wildlife have drawn humans to this area for at least 11,000 years when humans migrated along this corridor, sometimes settling to hunt, fish and farm. Artifacts and stone tools found nearby tell us that nomadic paleoindian hunters pursued herds of mammoth and bison in the valley. Today, Bosque del Apache is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a national network of lands and waters set aside and managed for the benefit of wildlife, habitat and you.