The Friends of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico welcome you! We work on behalf of birds and wildlife, helping to protect the critically important habitat of the Bosque del Apache NWR, and helping to educate and inform the public about the value and beauty of all life at the Bosque.
We are a non-profit group which was organized in 1993 to support the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and to promote appreciation and conservation of wildlife and habitat through environmental education and natural history.

We'd love to have you as our Friend! Please consider Joining Us in this crucial effort!

We have some great resources on our site for you, including information about our Refuge with detailed year-round birding information; maps; and many of the special projects The Friends of the Bosque have accomplished and are planning.

We invite you to our great Refuge educational events which include workshops, programs, seminars, classes and lectures, and more including color posters you can download for free.


Please come to our acclaimed Festival of The Cranes; November 16-21, 2010 with six great days of workshops, tours, lectures, hikes and special activities; and our popular Art Show (painting, photography, jewelry, crafts, clothing and more) and Wildlife Exhibitions (snakes, wolves, raptors and more!) Festival Art "Crane Pair Reflections" at right will be on all our Festival merchandise- t-shirts, lapel pins, mugs and more.



Our Bosque Nature Store Online and at the Refuge Supports all the Friends' Important Educational and Refuge Projects. Everything you purchase helps our efforts.


We have a great slide show of photographs, and an exciting flyout page with sound.

Thank you for visiting our web site, and don't forget to check What's new at both the Refuge and What's New with Friends!

We, the Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico, would like to express our deepest and heartfelt concern for the birds and wildlife and everyone affected by this terrible Gulf Oil Spill. We support our fellow National Wildlife Refuges and all the people and organizations working to help. We are a very strong and caring membership, and we will do whatever we possibly can to help! See How To Help

E-Bird Trail Tracker (below)
Also...Please see Current Bird Counts
Direct from the Refuge Staff beginning in late October
See detailed Checklists and Birding resources
for the Bosque ...click here.......

August 18, 2010. NEWS! The Complete Festival of the Cranes Schedule is now online! Please join us! Festival of the Cranes, November 16-21, 2010

August 12, 2010. 3pm. The Friends of the Bosque sought out and achieved partnership with the 3 other Friends groups in the state (Bitter Lake, Sevilleta, and Las Vegas) for a joint letter calling BP to task for the damage to wildlife and habitat along the Gulf coast. This letter went out today with copies to the partnering Friends, the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA), the USFWS Regional Director, our 2 Senators, and our 3 Representatives.
Please- Everyone! Read this powerful, important and thoughtful letter

Great New Items added to Bosque Nature Store Online where you can pay securely with your credit card or with PayPal

New Sasquatch T-shirt Whimsical design unique to Bosque del Apache. You have to see this!

New Bosque del Apache Patch $6


Pocket Naturalist Guide Bosque del Apache $5.95

Mouse Pad Roadrunner or Sandhill Cranes Bosque del Apache $10
There are new visors, bucket hats, mouse pads, coasters, books, and we have a special on the Junior Duck Stamp cards- 10 cards for only $7.00.
New Mexico Junior Duck Stamp Program Greeting Cards 10 different greeting cards with envelopes blank inside Paintings by New Mexico artists ages 6-18 in 2008. Proceeds from the sale of these greeting cards provide savings bonds to winners in the annual Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation & Design Program. The Program, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, teaches environmental science & habitat conservation.

Amy Estelle's great program, The Science and Myth of the Moon, at the Bosque is on September 25 , 7:30 p.m. Sign up now!
The Moon has inspired poetry, song, and stories. But what do we really know about the Earth's only natural satellite? Join amateur astronomer Amy Estelle for a closer look at the science and myth of the Moon. Create your own map of the Moon and learn how it affects life on Earth. Meet at the Visitor Center. After an introduction to the topic, visitors will caravan to an astronomical observing site on the refuge where telescopes and binoculars will be available. This program is limited to 35 people, ages 8 and above, please. To make reservations call 575 835 -1828. Bring a flashlight. See more....

An oil spill has occurred near Bosque del Apache NWR, 9 miles south of San Antonio, New Mexico and around 2 miles south of the Visitor Center due to a train derailment. 19 BNSF train cars hauling mixed freight and two locomotives derailed around 6:30 am Tuesday morning. From one to three cars were reportedly leaking oil or a fuel oil mix.
Story- El Defensor Chieftain, Socorro
KOAT reports that "BNSF officials said crews were quick to respond and build earth berms to contain the oil..
Officials said the priority was keeping the spill from reaching the streams and marshlands where sandhill cranes spend their winters. Some oil did get into the Bosque del Apache area, but not to the water, authorities said.
"Right now, everything has been dammed and diked to prevent any damage to the environment," said Sgt. Jason Green of the New Mexico State Police ...." Full Story - KOAT TV Albuquerque
KOAT TV Slide show
Story- Albuquerque Journal

Friends of the Bosque is making a donation to Parkview Elementary Outdoor Classroom Project. Please see Press Release The President of the Friends, Paul White, writes, "We commend you for your vision in seeing the need for multidisciplinary education about watershed issues and their interaction with wildlife habitat, and for your initiative in putting together community resources and leveraging the Parkview setting itself to create an exciting educational opportunity."

Special Event!
Rescheduled-Please Check back for date, Visitor Center
Gary Froehlich
Little Things that Rule the World with Gary Froehlich
This workshop's goal is to expose you to this fascinating world of insects, to share their beauty, to describe some of their extraordinary survival strategies, and to reveal some of their mysteries.
More about this...and all Refuge events &workshops &tours

Wonderful Aplomado exhibit on display at the Refuge! A new exhibit in the Visitor Center at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge shows the exciting return of the Northern Aplomado Falcon's return to the skies of southern New Mexico. "The exhibit and more importantly, this falcon's return represent the culmination of many people's dreams and years of hard work."

The latest Bosque Watch Newsletter is available for download.

MORE NEWS....Continued... Please see What's new for complete Refuge News and Friends' News.....

Also, See Current Bird Counts & Checklists