ALL EVENTS
21st ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE CRANES
November 18-23, 2008
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Festival Art - "The Gang's All Here" by Elli Sorensen
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All Festival of the Cranes Events
Tuesday, Nov 18 through Sunday, Nov 23, 2008
You may also click in the menu above for the event list for each dayTuesday, November 18, 2008
Sandhill Crane Behavior
Workshop
5:30 am to 11:30 am Tu1 - $65
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane1The most comprehensive training on cranes offered at any crane festival, this morning-long workshop will teach you many of the common vocalizations, body language and other characteristics of sandhill cranes. You'll learn to recognize juveniles, tell subspecies apart, distinguish between dancing and aggression and many other details that will help you better understand and appreciate sandhill cranes. At first light we will listen to the cranes on their roosting spots to identify vocalizations and other behaviors. We then move to the classroom for breakfast and to view many behaviors on film before traveling to different locations on the Refuge to watch and interpret crane interactions. Your instructors are Paul Tebbel and Keanna Leonard. Paul has worked with cranes for 30 years, including 11 years as the director of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River in Nebraska where more cranes gather every spring than any other location in the world. Keanna is the Director of Education at Rowe Sanctuary and helps over 7,000 students every year understand and appreciate cranes, wildlife habitat and the Platte River. Warm shoes and warm, layered clothing recommended. Limit 15. Offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Digital Photography with Long Lenses
Workshop
6:00 am to 6:30 pm (Tuesday-Thursday) Tu2 - $275
Bosque del Apache NWR, LoungeThis 3-day workshop is designed for those eager to learn how to photograph the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge using a digital SLR camera. Professional wildlife photographer and naturalist Jerry Goffe and his co-instructors will conduct a 3-day experience on wildlife and nature photography. Included are both classroom and hands-on experience at the Refuge. Proven techniques and tips will be utilized while photographing sandhill cranes, geese, other animals and landscapes of the Refuge. The workshop will start at sunrise and go through sunset daily with classroom presentation, downloading, Photoshop, and printing and a siesta during the slow times. The workshop has been designed to give the participants copious amounts of personal assistance while out on the Refuge. Canon will be supporting the workshop with camera bodies and lenses to 600mm. Wimberley, Really right Stuff, B&H Photo, Hoodman and others also support the workshop with the use of their most popular products. Bring your camera and flash, instruction manual, media (memory) cards, laptop if you have one, tripod, layered clothing and a sense of excitement. Meet at the Visitor Center Tuesday morning at 6:00. Limit 20. Breakfasts and lunches included.
Deadly Beauty Behavior
Workshop
8:00 am to 11:30 am Tu3 - $15
San Antonio, Owl Bar Parking LotExplore the hunting strategies that hawks, falcons, and eagles use to catch their prey with falconer and wildlife rehabilitator Matthew Mitchell. Trained hawks and falcons will be released to fly, chase lures, and possibly even hunt wild quarry (viewers be warned!) This group will meet at the west side of the Owl Cafe in San Antonio at 8:00 a.m. and carpool a short distance to an area where the birds can be flown safely. Bring your questions and binoculars. Cameras are allowed, but no dogs, please.
Land, Sea and Air
Tour
8:30 am to 2:00 pm Tu4 - $90
Marina del Sur, Elephant Butte LakeSea birds, diving ducks, cormorants, grebes, white pelicans and more can be found in a dramatic geological setting at Elephant Butte Lake. Join Steve Green and Tamie Bulow for this exciting trip aboard a 44-foot twin-engine houseboat, followed by birding on land. Breakfast snacks and a full lunch, featuring locally grown and produced foods, will be served. The boat will leave promptly at 9:00 am from Marina del Sur at Elephant Butte State Park and will return to the same location around noon. From there we caravan (5-10 minutes) to the riparian area at the base of Elephant Butte Dam for more birding. Take exit 83 on I-25 and follow signs to the State Park. As the park is a 90-minute drive from Socorro, you may want to stay the night before the trip in Truth or Consequences. We will be happy to send information on accommodations close to the tour site. The price of the tour is refundable if the weather is such that the trip has to be canceled. Be sure to note your dietary requirements on the meals page of the registration form. Warm clothing is recommended. Limit 14. Offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Arroyo de Las Cañas
Hike
12:30 pm to 4:30 pm Tu5 - $5
Owl Bar Parking Lot, QuebradasFirst, drive through spectacular Chihuahuan desert scenery on the Quebradas Scenic Backcountry Byway. Then scramble into and along the rocky Arroyo de Las Cañas with naturalist Bob Merkel. These rocks and sands are evidence of Paleozoic seas, saline lagoons, and ancient beaches. The hike is on uneven ground. Sturdy shoes or boots are needed, hiking sticks are helpful, and cameras are recommended. Meet at the Owl Bar parking area in San Antonio. High clearance vehicles recommended; carpooling will be arranged from the parking area.
Tool Tour
Tour
1:30 pm to 4:00 pm Tu6 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1Behind the peaceful marshes, bustling cornfields and restored cottonwood forests of the Bosque del Apache NWR is a lot of work and heavy equipment. Dozers, front end loaders, excavators and other equipment are essential to the management of the Refuge. Join Refuge Operations Specialist Bernard Lujan for a tour of the tools the Refuge uses to create and maintain habitats and see some of these big machines in action.
__________________________________Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Sandhill Crane Behavior
Workshop
5:30 am to 11:30 am We7 - $65
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane1The most comprehensive training on cranes offered at any crane festival, this morning-long workshop will teach you many of the common vocalizations, body language and other characteristics of sandhill cranes. You'll learn to recognize juveniles, tell subspecies apart, distinguish between dancing and aggression and many other details that will help you better understand and appreciate sandhill cranes. At first light we will listen to the cranes on their roosting spots to identify vocalizations and other behaviors. We then move to the classroom for breakfast and to view many behaviors on film before traveling to different locations on the Refuge to watch and interpret crane interactions. Your instructors are Paul Tebbel and Keanna Leonard. Paul has worked with cranes for 30 years, including 11 years as the director of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River in Nebraska where more cranes gather every spring than any other location in the world. Keanna is the Director of Education at Rowe Sanctuary and helps over 7,000 students every year understand and appreciate cranes, wildlife habitat and the Platte River. Warm shoes and warm, layered clothing recommended. Limit 15. Offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Land, Sea and Air
Tour
8:30 am to 2:00 pm We8 - $90
Marina del Sur, Elephant Butte LakeSea birds, diving ducks, cormorants, grebes, white pelicans and more can be found in a dramatic geological setting at Elephant Butte Lake. Join Steve Green and Tamie Bulow for this exciting trip aboard a 44-foot twin-engine houseboat, followed by birding on land. Breakfast snacks and a full lunch, featuring locally grown and produced foods, will be served. The boat will leave promptly at 9:00 am from Marina del Sur at Elephant Butte State Park and will return to the same location around noon. From there we caravan (5-10 minutes) to the riparian area at the base of Elephant Butte Dam for more birding. Take exit 83 on I-25 and follow signs to the State Park. As the park is a 90-minute drive from Socorro, you may want to stay the night before the trip in Truth or Consequences. We will be happy to send information on accommodations close to the tour site. The price of the tour is refundable if the weather is such that the trip has to be canceled. Be sure to note your dietary requirements on the meals page of the registration form. Warm clothing is recommended. Limit 14. Offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
River Restoration Along the Rio Grande
Tour
9:00 am to 3:00 pm We9 - $35
Lannan, Bosque del Apache NWROne hundred years ago, the Rio Grande in the area of Bosque del Apache NWR flowed through a mosaic of habitats including wetlands, forests and a wide-open channel. These habitats were important to wildlife and people along its shores. Join Refuge Ecologist Gina Dello Russo for a look at initiatives that are addressing river health in the Socorro Valley, including river processes, flooding, fire, private property issues and open space along the river corridor. Part lecture, part discussion, this program will include a field trip to sites along the river on federal, state, and private lands to look at how people are working together on these issues. This event includes a picnic lunch. Limit 14 people.
New Research Programs at the Bosque
Exhibit
9:00 am to Noon We10 Free
Bosque del Apache NWR, AtriumBosque del Apache NWR hosts a number of research projects - from yellow-billed cuckoo ecology to vegetation restoration - in conjunction with universities, other national wildlife refuges, conservation organizations, and state and federal agencies. Research helps Refuge biologists develop and adapt management techniques, determine priorities, and learn more about the plants and animals with which we are entrusted. Join us for coffee at 9:00 as researchers give brief overviews of their projects. Afterwards you will have the chance to talk directly to them about their work, their findings, and the science of wildlife management. Find out what is being studied and how the results may impact Refuge management now and in the future.
Wetland Management
Tour
9:00 am to Noon We11 - $10
Bosque del Apache, LannanSurrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert and anchored by the silt-laden waters of the Rio Grande Bosque del Apache is one of the most scenic wetland complexes in the United States. Every winter hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the Refuge to revel in the beauty of wintering waterfowl, few however understand the work that Refuge staff and volunteers do to prepare the more than 2,000 acres of wetland habitat each year to ensure wintering waterfowl have enough to eat throughout the cold winter months. In this presentation Land Management Research and Demonstration Biologist John Vradenburg will discuss wetland ecology, wetland management techniques, techniques to determine how much food is produced, and how to provide water to feed the maximum number of waterfowl. A portion of this presentation will take place inside after which participants will join John on a tour of the wetland, see machinery working in the field, and witness birds responding to management techniques. Participants will come away with a positive hands-on wetland management experience.
Prairie Dogs
Lecture
9:00 am to 10:30 am We12 - $5
Macey Center, AuditoriumOf the five known species of prairie dogs, all of which are found from southern Canada to northern Mexico, one is endangered, one is threatened and others have suffered a 95% decline in numbers and living area in the last century. Prairie dogs are a keystone species: a species upon which many others depend. Neither dog nor rodent, this colonial squirrel is of prime importance to many other species and one that deserves to be part of the grassland ecosystem. Their social behavior has been studied and new things are discovered constantly. The talk will discuss all 5 species, with an emphasis on Black-tailed Prairie Dogs found in southern New Mexico. Their behavior, efforts for reintroduction, and natural history will be covered.
Native Bees of New Mexico
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm We13 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaWhen many people think of bees, they think of the honey bee or the bumblebee. There are, however, over 30,000 species of bees in the world, and the honey bee, Apis mellifera, is only one of those species. Honey bees are not native to the USA; they were introduced in the 1700s by settlers. What, then, is a native bee? Bees are vegetarian wasps that feed their offspring pollen instead of animal protein. They range in size from .75 of a millimeter to over an inch and come in almost every color. Most bees are desert- adapted, making New Mexico a wonderful place to find a large diversity of bees. In the past five years, over 100 species have been added to our list (of 472 species) through the work done on the Sevilleta NWR. Eleven of those species are new to science. Native bees are important because most pollinate only one or a few types of flowers. Without native bees, our native wildflowers would suffer. The potential for using native bees in agriculture has only recently been explored.
Burrowing Owls
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm We14 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaBased on several long-term studies done in New Mexico, Burrowing Owls seem to be on the decline. Because they are listed as a high responsibility species by New Mexico Partners in Flight, an exciting 5-year project is attempting to discover where the owls over-winter and what routes they fly south. Is the possible decline linked to the arduous task of migration, or is it what happens on their winter grounds? Find out what researchers are learning that ultimately may contribute to the conservation of this species. Of course, avian ambassadors will be present for the presentation.
Feel the Heat
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm We15 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanObserve first-hand many of the tools and techniques utilized by fire management personnel at Bosque del Apache NWR. Take a tour with Chris Wilcox, Fire Management Officer, to past and current restoration sites which have or will feel the heat of prescribed fire to meet resource management objectives. Demonstrations of firing equipment include: specialized grenades, ignition pistols, drip torches, ditch dragons and terra-torches (flame throwers).
Trinity Tour
Tour
Noon to 5:30 pm We16 - $45
San Antonio, Owl Bar
PHOTO ID REQUIRED
Fred Hollis, retired employee of the White Sands Missile Range and Trinity Site history buff, will be your guide on this tour of the site of the first atomic detonation. The tour begins at the Owl Bar, where the Los Alamos scientists stayed during the blast. The Bar was the community meeting place and had the only phone in town. It is also famous for its green chile cheeseburgers! A coach (with rest room) will take you to the Trinity Site as well as to the McDonald Ranch House. Wear walking shoes and layered clothing and bring a photo ID. This tour is offered on Wednesday and Saturday. Meet in the Owl Bar Meeting Room for lunch (included) at noon. Leave for White Sands at 1:00 pm. Limit 40.
The Refuge
Tour
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm We17 - $10
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanBosque del Apache NWR is ideally situated in a flyway ecosystem that extends from Canada to Mexico, and offers rest and food to migrating wildlife. Join our Wildlife Biologist, John Vradenburg, for a presentation and tour showcasing some of the ongoing habitat management projects at Bosque del Apache NWR. See how Refuge staff transforms the land: creating habitat, restoring natural processes, and manipulating land and water to benefit a variety of wildlife. You'll understand why the Refuge is one of fourteen Land Management Research and Demonstration Areas in the country that are outstanding examples of how applied research and habitat management work together.
Backyard Birdfeeding
Lecture
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm We18 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaFor beginners and old hands alike, Ann Shewnack of Wild Birds Unlimited will discuss backyard bird feeding, ways to enhance your backyard birding habitat and the latest in feeding equipment.
NM Important Bird Area: a Wetland in the Desert
Lecture
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm We19 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaThe Holloman Air Force Base (HAFB) constructed wetlands area was declared a New Mexico Important Bird Area in 2002 by the New Mexico Chapter of the National Audubon Society. This wetlands complex contains two large bodies of water attractive to numerous waterfowl, shorebirds and other aquatic bird species. The adjacent habitat provides a stopover and wintering grounds for numerous migrating land birds. You will gain knowledge of which species use it as breeding grounds and how many species stop during their migration. A checklist of birds will be provided. The area is open to the public with access off Highway 70 just south of HAFB.
Look But Don't Touch
Workshop
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm We20 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanJoin naturalist (and cactus grower) Daniel Perry for a walk through the Laura Jean Deal Desert Arboretum to commune with the cacti. These special plants are symbolic of the Southwest and are native only to the New World. We will discuss identification, propagation, cultivation and appreciation of these prickly plants. There are also a few imposters we will learn to identify.
Dinner Theater
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm We21 - $32
Socorro, Garcia Opera HouseThe Socorro Community Theater will again be bringing you a fun-filled evening of entertainment at the historic Garcia Opera House. Past dinner theater productions have included popular comedies and murder mysteries such as "Rumors," "Noises Off," "Lend Me a Tenor," and "The Mousetrap." Specific information about this year's play and dinner menu will be available after Labor Day, upon request. Prepaid registration is required.
_______________________________
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Walk out to Fly out
Tour
5:30 am to 7:30 am Th22 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 2A sunrise spectacular! Countless birds rising into the sky! Take a short bus ride and then walk out to watch the incredible flight of thousands of geese and cranes leaving their roosts. Warm shoes and clothing recommended. Offered Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Black Belt Birding
Tour
5:30 am to 10:00 am Th23 - $90
Bosque del Apache NWR, Quail 1A tour for intermediate and expert birders. You will have the most experienced guides and birding assistants the Bosque has to offer for a morning of serious birding. Coffee and pastries along with a souvenir mug and tote are provided but the focus is on BIRDING. Your host will be Cecil Kimberlin, long-time guide at the Bosque del Apache NWR. This event is offered Thursday and Friday. Limit 12.
Sandhill Crane Behavior
Workshop
5:30 am to 11:30 am Th24 - $65
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane1The most comprehensive training on cranes offered at any crane festival, this morning-long workshop will teach you many of the common vocalizations, body language and other characteristics of sandhill cranes. You'll learn to recognize juveniles, tell subspecies apart, distinguish between dancing and aggression and many other details that will help you better understand and appreciate sandhill cranes. At first light we will listen to the cranes on their roosting spots to identify vocalizations and other behaviors. We then move to the classroom for breakfast and to view many behaviors on film before traveling to different locations on the Refuge to watch and interpret crane interactions. Your instructors are Paul Tebbel and Keanna Leonard. Paul has worked with cranes for 30 years, including 11 years as the director of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River in Nebraska where more cranes gather every spring than any other location in the world. Keanna is the Director of Education at Rowe Sanctuary and helps over 7,000 students every year understand and appreciate cranes, wildlife habitat and the Platte River. Warm shoes and warm, layered clothing recommended. Limit 15. Offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Deadly Beauty Photography
Workshop
8:00 am to 11:00 am Th25 - $35
San Antonio, Owl Bar Parking LotPhotograph the hunting strategies that hawks, falcons, and eagles use to catch their prey. This event will give priority to the needs of photographers. Falconer and wildlife rehabilitator Matthew Mitchell'strained hawks and falcons will be released to fly, chase lures, and possibly even hunt wild quarry (viewers be warned!) This group will meet at the west side of the Owl Cafe in San Antonio at 8:00 AM and carpool a short distance to an area where the birds can be flown safely. Bring your questions, tripods, cameras and binoculars, but no dogs.
Land, Sea and Air
Tour
8:30 am to 2:00 pm Th26 - $90
Marina del Sur, Elephant Butte LakeSea birds, diving ducks, cormorants, grebes, white pelicans and more can be found in a dramatic geological setting at Elephant Butte Lake. Join Steve Green and Tamie Bulow for this exciting trip aboard a 44-foot twin-engine houseboat, followed by birding on land. Breakfast snacks and a full lunch, featuring locally grown and produced foods, will be served. The boat will leave promptly at 9:00 am from Marina del Sur at Elephant Butte State Park and will return to the same location around noon. From there we caravan (5-10 minutes) to the riparian area at the base of Elephant Butte Dam for more birding. Take exit 83 on I-25 and follow signs to the State Park. As the park is a 90-minute drive from Socorro, you may want to stay the night before the trip in Truth or Consequences. We will be happy to send information on accommodations close to the tour site. The price of the tour is refundable if the weather is such that the trip has to be canceled. Be sure to note your dietary requirements on the meals page of the registration form. Warm clothing is recommended. Limit 14. Offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Where the Buffalo Roam
Lecture
9:00 am to 10:30 am Th27 - $5
Macey Center, CopperThe Armendaris Grant runs south from the Bosque del Apache NWR to below Truth or Consequences. Its 600 square miles encompass an entire mountain range,
seven ghost towns, the oldest Spanish mine, a bat cave with the 4th largest bat population in the US, 3 frontier fort sites and the historic El Camino Real del Adentro. Wildlife such as eagles, hawks, bats, antelope, mule deer and oryx are abundant as well as some Desert Bighorn sheep, Aplomado falcons, Bolson tortoises and blacktailed prairie dogs. And there are bison - lots of bison. Tom Waddell, the ranch manager, has agreed to make an appearance and will give an informal presentation on the ranch, the bison and the research programs that are being carried out there. More fireside chat than lecture, this is an opportunity to gain insight into a fascinating place that is normally closed to the public.
Digiscoping: the art of photography through a spotting scope
Workshop
9:00 am to Noon Th28 - $15
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanJoin Jeff Bouton for an hour long classroom session reviewing the "nuts and bolts" of digiscoping, including: camera selection, coupling varying cameras and scopes for maximum effectiveness, comparisons between digiscoping and telephoto lens photography, adapter selection, and some field craft tips to maximize your equipment's potential. Learn how you can achieve incredible results at focal lengths reaching 6,000 mm equivalents through your spotting scope! Following the classroom session, we will take to the field for a couple hours of hands-on opportunities working with the equipment and the cooperative wildlife subjects. In the past four years, Jeff has shot from the hip as he travels and watches birds & wildlife. His digiscoped images have been published in Outdoor Photographer, PC Photographer, WildBird, Birding Business Magazine, etc., and he has over 1300 digiscoped wildlife images online as well. Join Jeff to learn more about this fun and exciting way to capture wildlife images through a spotting scope. To make the most of this session, bring whatever equipment you have.
All About Raptors
Workshop
9:00 am to 1:00 pm Th29 - $25
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanJoin an experienced raptor handler for this comprehensive course on the identification of birds of prey. Your instructor will combine live demonstration birds, photographs and field observation to help you learn to recognize the plumage variations in red-tailed hawks to telling the age of an immature bald eagle. This workshop will focus on specific features of different species while also providing you with interesting information about their habitat needs and behavior. Your instructor is Dr. Kathleen Ramsay. Dr. Ramsay started the Wildlife Center in Espanola, NM, over 20 years ago and provides veterinary care for hundreds of raptors every year. She is also one of the primary field veterinarians for the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.
Discover Sevilleta
Tour
9:00 am to 3:00 pm Th30 - $10
Sevilleta NWR, Visitor CenterApproximately 230,000 acres in size, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is a vast landscape in the heart of New Mexico. It supports four major ecosystems, touches two mountain ranges and embraces the largest river in the State. Its magnitude and austere beauty make the Refuge unforgettable, but its true significance lies in its function. The Refuge is managed not for a specific species of wildlife, but for the natural processes of flood, fire and succession that sustain this huge landscape's functioning ecosystems. These varied habitats provide homes for a diversity of wildlife and plants, many existing at the edge of their capabilities. The majority of the land that makes up the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is closed to public access, allowing for wildlife management, habitat restoration and research. This tour provides a rare opportunity to visit the Refuge's back-country. Bring lunch and plenty to drink. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. This tour includes some easy walking over uneven terrain. Take I-25 north to exit 169, turn west to the Refuge Visitor Center. Limit 20 people.
Refuge Birding Tour
Tour
9:30 am to 11:30 am Th31 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 2The Refuge Birding Tour focuses on the species that can be seen within the Bosque del Apache NWR. The exact tour route will depend on the distribution of birds on that day. Offered Thursday and Friday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot. Limit 40.
Refuge Manager Tour
Tour
10:00 am to Noon Th32 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1Tour the Bosque del Apache NWR with a Refuge Manager and learn about the history of the Refuge, its goals, and how these goals are being achieved. You will visit areas not normally open to the public to view the methods and technology behind the scenes. Offered Thursday and Friday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot. Limit 40.
Bats!
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm Th33 - $5
Macey Center, Galena
Join world renowned bat photographer and researcher Scott Altenbach as he dispels myths about these mysterious creatures and explains their important role in nature.
Red Paint and Blue Coats: A Warrior's Revenge
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm Th34 - $5
Macey Center, CopperBosque del Apache. It seems fitting to talk about a few of the people for whom the Refuge is named. This talk explores one of the last chapters of the Apache Wars which raged in this area in the 1800s, one in which the Red Paint People, whom we called the Warm Springs Apache, were pitted against the US military. In the summer of 1881, after a series of devastating losses, Nana and a small band of warriors went on a revenge raid throughout a vast portion of southern New Mexico.
Lunch on the Mezzanine
Noon to 1:00 pm Th35 - $15
Macey Center, MezzanineWe will be serving a hot buffet lunch on the mezzanine at Macey Center. This is an opportunity to meet other Festival attendees as well as Festival speakers. Seating is limited to 40 and is by prepaid reservation only. Available Thursday and Saturday.
Canyon Trail Hike
Hike
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Th36 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Canyon TrailheadLocal naturalist Bob Merkel will lead the group on a 2-3/4 mile round trip along the wide and very sandy Solitude Arroyo and through a fascinating narrow canyon. The canyon is replete with geologically interesting formations from Tertiary time, several million years before the Rio Grande existed. Evidences of eruptions, floods, and desert dunes are there for all to see. Meet at the Canyon Trailhead 1.5 miles south of the Bosque Visitor Center. Note: because of the sand and elevation change this hike is "Moderate"; definitely not "Easy."
Nature Journaling: Painting your field notes
Workshop
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Th37 - $35
Bosque, LannanLearn to see quickly and record your observations in pencil and watercolor. Take a crash course in drawing from nature and how to translate your observations onto paper. Spend time looking and remembering, then make the eye hand connection resulting in drawings, paintings, and illustrations from the field. Be prepared to have fun, work hard, and be surprised!
Bring a small drawing paper pad, at least 8 x 10, any soft pencils, charcoal or conte crayon, and/or drawing pens and ink. Bring a kneaded eraser, a small pan or tube watercolor set with pallette, and at least 2 sizes of good watercolor brushes. Colored pencils are acceptable. Water and water holders will be provided.
Duck Ecology
Lecture
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Th38 - $5
Macey Center, CopperDucks are the dominant avifauna of wetland systems and one of the most successful avian groups in the world. Representatives breed on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. The success of this group of birds is tied to the diversity in size and shape of various parts of their body. These physical features allow ducks to travel great distances, be reactive to wetland availability, and survive through periods of poor habitat condition. In this presentation Land Management Research and Demonstration Biologist John Vradenburg will discuss duck ecology as it relates to habitat use, migration timing and distance, and reproductive strategies. Emphasis will be placed on common species to Bosque del Apache NWR .
Cave Swallows
Lecture
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Th39 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaIn 1978 Steve West began a study of Cave Swallows in Texas and New Mexico. He moved to New Mexico in 1980, and since that time has overseen the banding of 18,000 birds and 14,000 retraps. A study designed to discover the winter range of the last species of cave swallows in North America has developed into a passion to learn everything possible about this largely cave-dwelling species: one of only two species in the New World that depend so heavily on caves.
VLA Tour
Tour
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Th40 - Free
West of Magdalena, VLAThe VLA (Very Large Array) sits on the Plains of San Agustin, 50 miles west of Socorro and is used by radio astronomers from all over the world. It consists of 27 230-ton dish antennas, which can be moved along three 13-mile arms of a Y-shaped array. A staff member will discuss the history, operation and mission of this "other-worldly" project. Take Highway 60 west from Socorro to Magdalena. Continue west for 19 miles. Turn south on Route 52 and follow signs to the VLA Visitor Center. Allow one hour travel time from Socorro. Offered Thursday and Friday.
Oreodont: A 10-million-year-old Fossil Discovery at the Bosque
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Th41 - $5
Macey Center, AuditoriumGary Morgan, Curator of Paleontology at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Dave Love of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology were part of a team of geologists and paleontologists who discovered and collected the skull, lower jaws, and partial skeleton of an "oreodont" this past spring at the Bosque del Apache NWR. The fossil skeleton of this unusual member of cloven-hoofed ungulates was found in 10-million-year-old Miocene rocks in a sandstone cliff near the Bosque's Canyon Trail. Their talk will focus on this strange-looking boar-sized herbivore, distantly related to both pigs and camels, and the excitement this find has generated.
Walk in to Fly in
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Th42 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1An evening extravaganza! Watch as the evening sky fills with thousands of geese and cranes returning to the nighttime safety of the marshes. A bus ride and a short walk will take you to the roost area. Wear comfortable shoes and dress warmly. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Bosque Management Reception
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Th43 - Free
Macey Center, Mezzanine
Friends Annual Dinner
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Th44 - $28
Macey Center, MezzanineThe Friends of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge invite you to join in the sixth annual Friends Banquet on the Macey Center Mezzanine. Open to everyone, the banquet provides you the opportunity to meet the Friends in an informal setting. Refuge staff will be available before dinner to discuss projects and initiatives in the biology, visitor services, and fire programs. We have a number of activities planned and there will be an exhibit by local artists. There will be a cash bar. Be sure to make your dinner selection on the registration form.
Mysteries of the Ft. Stanton Cave and Snowy River
Keynote
8:00 pm to 9:30 pm Th45 - $5
Macey Center, AuditoriumThe birds that visit New Mexico every year fly over a wondrous hidden wilderness beneath the ground that few people (or birds!) ever see. This wilderness exists in the numerous and extensive cave systems that underlay many parts of New Mexico. A mere hour and a half drive from Socorro to the east is the Ft. Stanton Cave system, a cave that has been known and used by Native Americans, white settlers, and is used today for recreational cave trips. In 2001, Ft. Stanton yielded up a new glorious secret buried at her heart - a gleaming "frozen" river of crystalline calcite in a previously unknown passage, Snowy River.
Professor Boston will present the amazing animals and geomicroorganisms that inhabit or visit cave systems including those that live in Ft. Stanton Cave and Snowy River. She will discuss the critical nutrient and water connections between surface and subsurface ecosystems and the vital role that caves play in the natural world.
Dr. Penelope Boston is Director of the Cave and Karst Studies Program and Associate Professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, NM. Boston is also Associate Director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad, NM. A fellow of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, she does research in geomicrobiology and astrobiology in extreme environments; human life support issues in space and planetary environments; and use of robotics to assist exploration and science in extreme Earth and extraterrestrial environments. Boston is the author of over 100 technical and popular publications, editor of 4, and has two upcoming popular books. Her work has been featured in about 150 print and broadcast media outlets.
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Friday, November 21, 2008
Walk out to Fly out
Tour
5:30 am to 7:30 am Fr46 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 2A sunrise spectacular! Countless birds rising into the sky! Take a short bus ride and then walk out to watch the incredible flight of thousands of geese and cranes leaving their roosts. Warm shoes and clothing recommended. Offered Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Black Belt Birding
Workshop/Tour
5:30 am to 10:00 am Fr47 - $90
Bosque del Apache NWR, Quail 1A tour for intermediate and expert birders. You will have the most experienced guides and birding assistants the Bosque has to offer for a morning of serious birding. Coffee and pastries along with souvenir mug and tote are provided but the focus is on BIRDING. Your host will be Cecil Kimberlin, long-time guide at the Bosque del Apache NWR. This event is offered Thursday and Friday. Limit 12.
Sandhill Crane Behavior
Workshop/Tour
5:30 am to 11:30 am Fr48 - $65
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane1The most comprehensive training on cranes offered at any crane festival, this morning-long workshop will teach you many of the common vocalizations, body language and other characteristics of sandhill cranes. You'll learn to recognize juveniles, tell subspecies apart, distinguish between dancing and aggression and many other details that will help you better understand and appreciate sandhill cranes. At first light we will listen to the cranes on their roosting spots to identify vocalizations and other behaviors. We then move to the classroom for breakfast and to view many behaviors on film before traveling to different locations on the Refuge to watch and interpret crane interactions. Your instructors are Paul Tebbel and Keanna Leonard. Paul has worked with cranes for 30 years, including 11 years as the director of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River in Nebraska where more cranes gather every spring than any other location in the world. Keanna is the Director of Education at Rowe Sanctuary and helps over 7,000 students every year understand and appreciate cranes, wildlife habitat and the Platte River. Warm shoes and warm, layered clothing recommended. Limit 15. Offered Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Birds of New Mexico
Lecture
9:00 am to 10:30 am Fr49 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaSince New Mexico's wildlife habitats range from semi-arid desert to coniferous forests, it is no wonder that the bird life here is diverse. Mary Alice Root, past president of the New Mexico Ornithological Society, will give a slide presentation on birding in New Mexico. She will include information on the natural history and behavior of New Mexico's birds as well as hints on where to find them.
Principles of Stalking Bird Photography
Lecture
9:00 am to 10:30 am Fr50 - $5
Macey Center, CopperVeteran birder John Shipman enjoys the type of bird photography that emphasizes portability, going on foot almost anywhere a birdwatcher with binoculars would go. The aim is both documentation of rarities and quality pictures, although the latter generally depends on unusual cooperation on the part of the bird. In his discussion of bird photography without tripods, John will talk about equipment selection, packing for the field and photography techniques to get good results. For all levels of photographers.
River Connections
Lecture
9:00 am to Noon Fr51 - $5
Macey Center, AuditoriumAgua Vida: Water is Life. From the Rio Grande's headwaters at Stony Pass in the San Juan Mountains we follow the River southward, exploring river communities, riparian habitat, and the importance of the NWR system. This film tribute to the Rio Grande explores the connections we all have with the river, touching hearts through restoration and partnerships, lending our voices to the river's voice. Following the presentation filmmaker Alex Rykken will host a round table of program partners who will discuss important water issues facing all of us.
All About Raptors
Workshop
9:00 am to 1:00 pm Fr52 - $25
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanJoin an experienced raptor handler for this comprehensive course on the identification of birds of prey. Your instructor will combine live demonstration birds, photographs and field observation to help you learn to recognize the plumage variations in red-tailed hawks to telling the age of an immature bald eagle. This workshop will focus on specific features of different species while also providing you with interesting information about their habitat needs and behavior. Your instructor is Dr. Kathleen Ramsay. Dr. Ramsay started the Wildlife Center in Espanola, NM, over 20 years ago and provides veterinary care for hundreds of raptors every year. She is also one of the primary field veterinarians for the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.
Sevilleta Geology Tour
Tour
9:00 am to 3:00 pm Fr53 - $5
Sevilleta NWR, Visitor CenterDr.Dave Johnson, geologist from New Mexico School of Mines, will lead a tour of the western part of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, taking you to isolated scenic areas where the complex geology is strikingly exposed. Learn how geological formations that occurred long ago created the Rio Grande Valley. Be sure to take along a camera for spectacular views! This is a difficult driving area. You must have a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle to join the caravan. All vehicles will be inspected prior to departure. Car pooling may be required and will be arranged at Sevilleta. Bring a sack lunch and plenty of drinking water. Take 1-25 north to Exit 169 (Sevilleta NWR), turn west to the Sevilleta Headquarters. Limit 20.
Quebradas Road Tour
Tour
9:00 am to 3:00 pm Fr54 - $25
Macey Center, Parking LotTour the Quebradas Scenic Byway with staff from the Bureau of Land Management and New Mexico Tech. The tour covers 24 miles of dirt road through scenic areas with exposed geology. Stops will be made to look at specific geological features as well as the area's flora and fauna. Wear sturdy shoes; bring drinks and snacks if desired. Lunch will be provided. This is a primitive area with no facilities. Four wheel drive not required. Full clearance necessary. Meet in the Macey Center parking lot. Limit 12.
Refuge Birding Tour
Tour
9:30 am to 11:30 am Fr55 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 2The Refuge Birding Tour focuses on the species that can be seen within the Bosque del Apache NWR. The exact tour route will depend on the distribution of birds on that day. Offered Thursday and Friday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot. Limit 40.
Refuge Manager Tour
Tour
10:00 am to Noon Fr56 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1Tour the Bosque del Apache NWR with a Refuge Manager and learn about the history of the Refuge, its goals, and how these goals are being achieved. You will visit areas not normally open to the public to view the methods and technology behind the scenes. Offered Thursday and Friday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot. Limit 40.
Common Amphibians and Reptiles of the Bosque
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm Fr57 - $5
Macey Center, Copper
Charlie Painter, herpetologist with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, will discuss the life cycles and habitat of some of the snakes, frogs, toads, turtles and other reptiles and amphibians found at the Bosque del Apache NWR. He may even bring some of his reptilian friends along!
A Birder's Guide to the Evolution of Birds
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm Fr58 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaMary Alice Root, Adjunct Naturalist, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, will explain how we know that birds shared the skies with the pterosaurs and the shallow seas and shorelines with the dinosaurs. Fossil birds from China show that well-developed social systems were present during the Cretaceous Period, some 100 million years ago. Birds have been evolving for over 200 million years and have become one of the world's most successful vertebrate groups.
Rio Grande Cacti
Exhibit
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm Fr59 - Free
Luis Lopez, Rio Grande CactiThe cactus nursery is located south of Luis Lopez, New Mexico, in the Rio Grande Valley on the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert. This nursery has an amazing array of cacti native to the Southwest and grown from seed. Many of these are adapted to colder conditions and can survive in outdoor plantings or can be grown indoors. The nursery also has well-established display gardens featuring many of these "symbols of the Southwest." The nursery is only open by appointment so don't miss this opportunity to visit. More information is available at www.riograndecacti.com (575-835-0687).
Tapestry of Life: the Beauty of Habitat Gardening
Lecture
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Fr60 - $5
Macey Center, CopperJudith Phillips knows that water is precious. Every drop spent on landscaping should have several benefits. Trees that shade living spaces are also nesting places and seed or nectar sources. Shrubs that enclose gardens also provide cover and food for wildlife. Flowers and grasses that color the landscape offer open spaces for hunting, sunning and playing. Suggestions for combining beautiful habitat plants in xeric garden refuges will be presented.
Birds - Going to Extremes
Lecture
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Fr61 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaBirds can navigate across a globe for days (and nights) without a compass. They can set up incubators for their eggs with a precise temperature. They can survive for months without food. They can manufacture tools. They can solve difficult problems, predict the future and plan for it. They can create elaborate pieces of art. In this program, Celestyn Brozek will discuss the most amazing facts of bird life illustrated with numerous pictures and movie clips. Celestyn has been passionate about birds from early childhood, obtained a doctorate in biology, and taught ornithology courses at the University of New Mexico, College of Santa Fe, and Central New Mexico Community College.
VLA Tour
Tour
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Fr62 - $0
West of Magdalena, VLAThe VLA (Very Large Array) sits on the Plains of San Agustin, 50 miles west of Socorro and is used by radio astronomers from all over the world. It consists of 27 230-ton dish antennas, which can be moved along three 13-mile arms of a Y-shaped array. A staff member will discuss the history, operation and mission of this "other-worldly" project. Take Highway 60 west from Socorro to Magdalena. Continue west for 19 miles. Turn south on Route 52 and follow signs to the VLA Visitor Center. Allow one hour travel time from Socorro. Offered Thursday and Friday.
Field Guide to Duck Butts
Workshop
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm Fr63 - $10
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanAfter an introductory lecture on duck identification, participants will spend two hours in the field with duck expert Rob Yaksich learning to identify the many dabbling and diving ducks that winter at the Bosque del Apache NWR.
San Miguel Tour
Tour
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Fr64 - Free
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Fr70 - Free
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Fr74 - Free
Socorro, San Miguel MissionIn 1598 Don Juan de Oñate led 400 colonists up the Rio Grande to settle New Mexico. After many difficulties they met their first friendly Native Americans at the pueblo of Pilabo. Fray Alonso, Benavidez and another Franciscan remained behind to proselytize the people of Pilabo. The pueblo was renamed Nuestra Senora de Socorro de Pilabo in remembrance of the succor (help) the colonists received when they needed it most. By 1600, a small church had been built and was replaced by the present one which was constructed between 1616 and 1626. You are invited to visit this witness to the history of our country. If you can't make one of the tours, the church itself is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm--feel free to stop in.
Smith Museum
Tour
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Fr65 - Free
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Fr71 - Free
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Fr75 - Free
Ticket Required
Smith Museum, 603 Central, SocorroThe Smith House in Socorro is the former home of Joseph Edward Smith, territorial photographer. He and his wife Elizabeth Ann (Myscie) Driver were given the home as a wedding present by the bride's parents in 1886. From cowboys to businessmen, Smith photographed the lives of working people to show the West as it was. Along with the photos, the museum holds an archive of his equipment, written material and artifacts from the period. The home itself has been restored to its 1880's vintage. Seven generations of Smiths have now lived in the home on Central Street. Suzanne Smith, the current resident is the great granddaughter of J.E. and Myscie Smith. She will guide you through the past with a personal accounting of the home and the Smith family.
Socorro County Arts Gallery
Exhibit
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Fr66 - Free
Socorro
Socorro County Arts Gallery is home to a number of artists' work. The variety of art in the gallery includes everything from paintings, fiber arts, stained glass, woodwork, pottery, sculpture and more. The gallery is located just north of the Police Station, in the Finley Gym complex. Visitors are welcome to browse the works and meet some of the artists. Open attendance, no ticket required.
Curious Crow Studio and Fullingim, Isenhour, & Leard Galleries
Exhibit
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Fr67 - $0
Socorro
The Curious Crow Studio and Fullingim, Isenhour & Leard Galleries will be hosting a special open house with artists at work. Local landscape pastelist Margi Lucena and oil painter Natasha Isenhour will be demonstrating their skills as they work to complete pieces for future shows. Sharon Fullingim's bronze and stone sculptures and copper-plate etchings, and Skeeter Leard's water colors and pastels also will be featured. The Studio and Galleries are located at 113c W. Abeyta with parking available across from the Stage Door Grill.
Hands-on Cooking Class
Workshop
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Fr68 - $15
Socorro, PlazaExperience the fun of learning to make traditional New Mexican foods from scratch. Participants will stuff tamales in cornhusks, roll out flour tortillas, mix up a batch of red chile and learn the best way to slow cook posole. You'll go home with a new recipe, guaranteed!
Iris Passcal
Tour
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm Fr69 - $0
Socorro, Iris PasscalIRIS PASSCAL supports the exploration of the Earth's crust, mantle and core to enhance fundamental understanding of earthquakes, volcanoes, crustal deformation, mantle convection, global geodynamics and the history of the continents. Learn about this fascinating area of research and tour the facility. Tickets are required.
Strategies in Journaling
Workshop
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm Fr72 - $5
Macey, CopperJoin author Evelyn Horn as she guides you through strategies for recording your thoughts and observations as journal entries to keep or possibly to publish. With a masters degree in English, and an ardent botanist and birder, Horn is the author of Following the Sandhill Cranes in Colorado [2004] and Still Following the Feathered and Flowered [2007]. Participants should bring a notepad and pen.
New Mexico's Native Americans: Where, When and Why
Lecture
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Fr73 - $5
Macey, GalenaAncestors of today's Puebloans, Apaches, and Navajos (who now live on, and off, 22 separate and distinct reservations in New Mexico) have been in the Americas for at least 13,000 years (they say "forever"). Wrenching changes over the last half millenium, though, have obscured their past: drought, migration, Spanish "entrada," Mexican independence, US acquisition, gold fever, The Bomb. And, whatever happened to the Piro people who lived right here near the Bosque 500 years ago? Local resident Bob Merkel has the story and some surprising answers. [Also see #Sa102, Chupadera Arroyo Hike on Saturday.]
Social on the Plaza
4:00 pm to 9:00 pm Fr76 - $5
Socorro, PlazaVisitors and locals alike are invited to the town plaza to for music and celebration of the Twenty-first Annual Festival of the Cranes. There will be a City sponsored "Spirits Tent" where you can sample beer and wine from New Mexico breweries and wineries, including a local favorite: Socorro Springs Brewing Company. The $5 fee (for those who can prove they are over 21) includes a commemorative 21st Festival of the Cranes glass. Posole and tamales also will be for sale. Come early if you plan to attend the Tango performance or the Star Party or stay till the party ends at 9:00!
Walk in to Fly in
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Fr77 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1An evening extravaganza! Watch as the evening sky fills with thousands of geese and cranes returning to the nighttime safety of the marshes. A bus ride and a short walk will take you to the roost area. Wear comfortable shoes and dress warmly. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Mineral Museum
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm Fr78 - $0
New Mexico Tech Campus, Mineral Museum
The Mineral Museum at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology on New Mexico Tech's campus invites you to an open house on Friday evening to view New Mexico's best collection of gems, fossils and minerals. At 6:30 pm, museum director Virgil Lueth will present a 30-minute slide show of New Mexico's collecting sites. Mineral specimens are available for purchase.
Tango: Rhythm & Passion by the Otero Dance Company
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm Fr79 - $16
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm Fr80 - $14
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm Fr81 - $12
Macey Center, AuditoriumJoin us on a journey of the senses to the golden age of the vibrant and sexy salsa ... To the home of the sensual tango in Buenos Aires ... To the roots of the traditional Argentine cowboys, the gauchos. The Otero Dance company, a vibrant cast of international artists, will lure you back in time to the origins of the art forms, and inspire a celebration of the modern interpretations of the world's most popular Latin dances. Experience a timeless world of theatrical dance, music, song, color, rhythm and passion.
Star Party
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Fr82 - $0
New Mexico Tech Campus, Etscorn ObservatoryDr. Dan Klinglesmith and members of the New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club are hosting their annual Festival Star Party. View extraordinary wonders of the winter sky through the Observatory's sophisticated telescopes. Club members will assist you in using the instruments and answer your questions. Restrooms available. Dress warmly. Flashlights are not allowed unless equipped with red filter.
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Saturday, November 22, 2008
Walk out to Fly out
Tour
5:30 am to 7:30 am Sa83 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 2A sunrise spectacular! Countless birds rising into the sky! Take a short bus ride and then walk out to watch the incredible flight of thousands of geese and cranes leaving their roosts. Warm shoes and clothing recommended. Offered Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Mountain Birding Tour
Tour
8:00 am to 11:00 am Sa84 - $5
Macey Center, Water CanyonJoin members of the New Mexico Ornithological Society on this 1-to-2 mile bird walk/hike at 7000 feet. Water Canyon's bird life in the winter months may include: Acorn and Hairy Woodpeckers; Steller's, Scrub, and Piñon Jays; Western and Mountain Bluebirds; Bushtits; White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches; Ruby-crowned Kinglets; and Dark-eyed Juncos. Sturdy shoes and layered clothing recommended. We will car pool from Macey Center parking lot. Offered Saturday and Sunday. Limit 30.
All About Cranes
Lecture
9:00 am to 10:30 am Sa85 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaCranes are fascinating birds to watch once you understand their actions and calls. This 1.5 hour seminar will lead you through basic crane biology and what to look for when crane-watching on the Refuge. You'll also receive a booklet explaining different crane actions so you can recognize them in the field. Your instructor, Paul Tebbel, has spent part of his last 30 years visiting various places in North America to shoot video of crane nests, crane behavior and other things involving his favorite birds.
Beginning Birding
Lecture
9:00 am to 10:30 am Sa86 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaThe Festival is a great place for beginners to learn about the tools and techniques of birding from experienced birders. Celestyn Brozek has studied birds since he was a child in Poland, sharing his passion with others by teaching college ornithology classes as well as leading workshops for the general public. He will present, discuss and answer questions on all aspects of birding, including choice of field guides, binoculars, birding locations, birding magazines, organizations etc. If you have any questions about birding, come to this program!
Refuge Tour
Tour
9:00 am to 11:00 am Sa87 - $5
11:30 am to 1:30 pm Sa96 - $5
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Sa104 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1This is a rare opportunity to explore seldom-visited areas of the Refuge with knowledgeable tour guides. Your hosts will help identify birds and explain how the land and water you see are managed to benefit wildlife. See spectacular views of cranes, geese, ducks and raptors, and perhaps even turkeys. Tours are offered Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot. Limit 80.
Leave No Trace
Workshop
9:00 am to 11:00 am Sa88 - Free
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Sa105 - Free
Bosque del Apache NWR, Chupadera Peak TrailheadLeave No Trace is a cooperative educational program that helps public land visitors understand and practice minimum impact skills and ethics. 7 stations will be set up near the Chupadera Peak Trailhead to engage visitors in Leave No Trace's practices, with small groups rotating through each station at 20-minute intervals. With plenty of fun activities for old and young alike, this is a great opportunity to become a part of the Leave No Trace team.
Geocaching
Workshop
9:00 am to 11:00 am Sa89 - $5
Macey Center, Mezzanine
Bring the family and join intrepid Geocacher Christine Forbes as she describes the sport of geocaching: what it is, the various types of caches, how to get started. Then, crank up those GPS units and find a few caches within walking distance of the Macey Center. You may bring your own GPS if you'd like. Dress for the weather.
Digiscoping: the art of photography through a spotting scope
Workshop
9:00 am to Noon Sa90 - $15
Bosque del Apache NWR, LannanJoin Jeff Bouton for an hour long classroom session reviewing the "nuts and bolts" of digiscoping, including: camera selection, coupling varying cameras and scopes for maximum effectiveness, comparisons between digiscoping and telephoto lens photography, adapter selection, and some field craft tips to maximize your equipment's potential. Learn how you can achieve incredible results at focal lengths reaching 6,000 mm equivalents through your spotting scope! Following the classroom session, we will take to the field for a couple hours of hands-on opportunities working with the equipment and the cooperative wildlife subjects. In the past four years, Jeff has shot from the hip as he travels and watches birds & wildlife. His digiscoped images have been published in various magazines (Outdoor Photographer, PC Photographer, WildBird, Birding Business Magazine, etc.) and he has over 1300 digiscoped wildlife images online as well. Join Jeff to learn more about this fun and exciting way to capture wildlife images through a spotting scope. To make the most of this session, bring whatever equipment you have.
Introduction to Digital Photography
9:00 am to 3:00 pm Sa91 - $30
Macey Center, CopperThis workshop is oriented to casual photographers using point and shoot cameras and consumer digital SLRs. The course will take place in and around Macey Center on the NMIMT campus and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving you time to see the lift off and eat breakfast before class begins. Lunch will be provided on the mezzanine. The workshop will cover basic camera theory, composition, and techniques, and will be interspersed with hands-on practice sessions photographing birds at Turtle Bay behind Macey Center. The goal of the workshop is to give you the knowledge you need to choose appropriate camera settings to achieve the artistic effect you want from each photograph. This workshop will not cover any image editing tools or techniques beyond cropping and resizing. Participants should bring their digital camera (with fully charged batteries), media cards, and optionally their tripod, remote switch, laptops, and battery operated flashes.
Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex
Drop in tour
9:00 am to 3:00 pm Sa92 - Free
Sevilleta NWR, Ladd S. Gordon
The sandhill cranes and snow geese winter along the Rio Grande River. You are invited to view them at the Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex where volunteers at the complex's viewing decks will answer your questions about the birds and their habitat. The Complex is open year round.
Junior Duck Stamp
Drop in Workshop
10:00 am to 2:00 pm Sa93 - Free
Bosque del Apache NWR, Exhibit tentYoung people interested in contributing art work for this year's Junior Duck Stamp competition can take the opportunity to learn about the program, design their own stamp, and submit their work at this drop-in session in the Exhibitor's tent. Materials will be provided.
Night Shift
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm Sa94 - $5
Macey Center, AuditoriumCome see and learn about owls, one of nature's most mysterious raptors. Master falconer and wildlife rehabilitator Matthew Mitchell will speak on owl behavior, physiology, and mythology. A native New Mexican with a degree in biology, Matthew has over 30 years of experience with wildlife. From his first relationship with a Burrowing Owl at age 14, he has interacted with them almost daily ever since. His expertise will offer a unique insight into this fascinating bird of prey. Limit 80.
Survival Tactics of Chihuahuan Desert Plants
Lecture
11:00 am to 12:30 pm Sa95 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaHeat, wind, and especially drought are harsh conditions for plant life. Yet, our desert is vibrant with a fascinating and beautiful array of shrubs and wildflowers. Author and lecturer Carolyn Dodson will illustrate the special adaptations of these plants, as well as their interactions with insect and avian pollinators. She will also discuss the riparian vegetation along the Rio Grande including the impact of exotic species on the native flora and fauna of the river. Her latest book, co-authored with Bill Dunmire and published by UNM Press, is "Mountain Wildflowers of the Southern Rockies."
Lunch on the Mezzanine
Noon to 1:00 pm Sa97 - $15
Macey Center, MezzanineWe will be serving a hot buffet lunch on the mezzanine at Macey Center. This is an opportunity to meet other Festival attendees as well as Festival speakers. Seating is limited to 40 and is by prepaid reservation only. Available Thursday and Saturday.
The Way it Really Was
Lecture/Tour
Noon to 4:00 pm Sa98 - $15
Sevilleta NWR, Visitor CenterAlvino Contreras grew up herding sheep on the Sevilleta Grant. Each trail, spring and hill had a name that was important. The names were guides through the landscape or warnings of things that had happened in the past. Alvino is a popular presenter and offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the way it really was. Following an introductory presentation at the Visitor Center, participants will tour some of the sites Alvino talks about including the sheep camp. Warm clothing and sturdy shoes recommended.
Trinity Tour
Tour
Noon to 5:30 pm Sa99 - $45
San Antonio, Owl Bar
PHOTO ID REQUIRED
Fred Hollis, retired employee of the White Sands Missile Range and Trinity Site history buff, will be your guide on this tour of the site of the first atomic detonation. The tour begins at the Owl Bar, where the Los Alamos scientists stayed during the blast. The Bar was the community meeting place and had the only phone in town. It is also famous for its green chile cheeseburgers! A coach (with rest room) will take you to the Trinity Site as well as to the McDonald Ranch House. Wear walking shoes and layered clothing and bring a photo ID. This tour is offered on Wednesday and Saturday. Meet in the Owl Bar Meeting Room for lunch (included) at noon. Leave for White Sands at 1:00 pm. Limit 40.
Chupadera Arroyo Hike
Hike
12:30 pm to 4:00 pm Sa100 - $5
San Antonio Historical Marker, Chupadera ArroyoA "moderate" (about 4 miles round trip) hike across the desert to the Chupadera Arroyo. This place was a hangout for Native American hunters long before the Spanish "entrada" into New Mexico. Participants will find a hiking stick (2 styles available at the Bosque Nature Store - or bring your own) very helpful. Led by local naturalist Bob Merkel, it is a neat followup to his Friday evening talk (FR73). Meet at the San Antonio historic marker on US 380 just east of I-25. High clearance vehicles recommended.
Meet the Authors: Book Signing at the Bosque
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Atrium, Bosque del Apache NWR
Many of the Festival's presenters are published authors. We'll have their books available at the Bosque Nature Store and some of the authors themselves (along with a local author or two) will be on hand outside the Nature Store to talk about their work. Drop by and visit, purchase a book (or several!), and get it autographed!
Junior Naturalist Tour
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Sa101 - $1
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to join one of the Bosque del Apache's naturalists for a special tour of the Refuge. Children may take a short hike, may use nets to catch critters in the marsh, and see pack rat nests and beaver activity. Parents are welcome and must accompany their children (no charge). Offered Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Early Ornithologists of the Chihuahuan Desert
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Sa102 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaFor millennia natives lived with (and on) the exceptional desert birds, naming them and understanding their habits and life histories. The first written accounts came from 16th century Spaniards, who as they passed through "Nuevo Mexico" on their search for El Dorado recorded their impressions of the unusual bird life they saw during their tedious journey. Not until three hundred years later did professional ornithologists begin to describe scientifically the desert avian fauna, beginning with the official survey of the Mexican-United States Border following the Mexican War.
Birding by Ear
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Sa103 - $5
Macey Center, AuditoriumIt is often easier to hear them than to see them! Enhance your birding skills by learning to identify birds by song. Christopher Rustay will use recordings to compare and contrast the songs of New Mexican birds.
Snow Goose Ecology
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Sa106 - $5
Macey Center, GalenaFounded in 1937 for the protection of migrating and wintering sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge has become one of the most important wetland complexes in the southwestern United States. Although the original purpose was for sandhill cranes, the Refuge benefits myriad migratory and resident wildlife species. During the wintering period one of the most spectacular visiting species is the light geese. However, the light geese are a relative new comer to Bosque del Apache NWR and with changes in their populations come new and challenging population management issues. In this presentation Land Management Research and Demonstration Biologist John Vradenburg will discuss the life history of the light geese that migrate through and winter in the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. Topics will include breeding areas of this population, migration routes, foraging tactics, population dynamics, and management actions implemented for this population.
Tai Chi Chuan: White Crane Spreads its Wings
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Sa107 - $5
Macey Center, MezzanineLegend says that in 12th-century China , Chang San-Feng observed a crane and a snake engaged in battle. The grace and flexibility of these two opponents are the basis of what eventually evolved as a series of 13 martial art movements. Members of the New Mexico Tech Martial Arts Club will demonstrate the fluid motion of the Tai Chi sequence and teach workshop participants some of the basic moves. Meet at the Macey Center Mezzanine. Weather permitting, the demonstration will take place on the lawn.
Walk in to Fly in
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Sa108 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1An evening extravaganza! Watch as the evening sky fills with thousands of geese and cranes returning to the nighttime safety of the marshes. A bus ride and a short walk will take you to the roost area. Wear comfortable shoes and dress warmly. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Friends Buffet Supper
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Sa109 - $20
Macey Center, MezzanineJoin us on the beautiful Macey Center Mezzanine for a relaxing buffet supper. Dr. Peter Raven's keynote at 8:00 pm is just a few steps away.
How Many Species Will Survive the 21st Century?
8:00 pm to 9:30 pm Sa110 - $5
Macey Center, AuditoriumCalculations from the longevity of species in the fossil record indicate an extinction rate of approximately 1 species per million per year over the past 65 million years. Written accounts from the past 500 years indicate that this rate has increased perhaps two orders of magnitude, so that we may be losing as many as 100 species per million per year now, and the rate is increasing. Habitat destruction, climate change, selective gathering of individual species, and the spread of alien invasive species are important in driving the accelerating rates of extinction. With extraordinary effort that we are likely to apply only to groups such as birds, extinction in this century might be limited to as little as 15% of all species; for many groups, it could approach or exceed 50%. The choice is ours, and depends on many different kinds of actions that Dr. Raven will discuss.
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Sunday, November 22, 2008
Walk out to Fly out
Tour
5:30 am to 7:30 am Su111 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 2A sunrise spectacular! Countless birds rising into the sky! Take a short bus ride and then walk out to watch the incredible flight of thousands of geese and cranes leaving their roosts. Warm shoes and clothing recommended. Offered Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
Mountain Birding Tour
Tour
8:00 am to 11:00 am Su112 - $5
Macey Center, Water CanyonJoin members of the New Mexico Ornithological Society on this 1-to-2 mile bird walk/hike at 7000 feet. Water Canyon's bird life in the winter months may include: Acorn and Hairy Woodpeckers; Steller's, Scrub, and Piñon Jays; Western and Mountain Bluebirds; Bushtits; White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches; Ruby-crowned Kinglets; and Dark-eyed Juncos. Sturdy shoes and layered clothing recommended. We will car pool from Macey Center parking lot. Offered Saturday and Sunday. Limit 30.
Refuge Tour
Tour
9:00 am to 11:00 am Su113 - $5
11:30 am to 1:30 pm Su115 - $5
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Su117 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1This is a rare opportunity to explore seldom-visited areas of the Refuge with knowledgeable tour guides. Your hosts will help identify birds and explain how the land and water you see are managed to benefit wildlife. See spectacular views of cranes, geese, ducks and raptors, and perhaps even turkeys. Tours are offered Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot. Limit 80.
Canyon Trail Hike
Hike
9:00 am to Noon Su114 - $5
Bosque del Apache NWR, Canyon TrailheadLocal naturalist Bob Merkel will lead the group on a 2-3/4 mile round trip along the wide and very sandy Solitude Arroyo and through a fascinating narrow canyon. The canyon is replete with geologically interesting formations from Tertiary time, several million years before the Rio Grande existed. Evidences of eruptions, floods, and desert dunes are there for all to see. Meet at the Canyon Trailhead 1.5 miles south of the Bosque Visitor Center. Note: because of the sand and elevation change this hike is "moderate"; definitely not "easy."
Junior Naturalist Tour
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Su116 - $1
Bosque del Apache NWR, Crane 1Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to join one of the Bosque del Apache's naturalists for a special tour of the Refuge. Children may take a short hike, may use nets to catch critters in the marsh, and see pack rat nests and beaver activity. Parents are welcome and must accompany their children (no charge). Offered Saturday and Sunday. Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.
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