Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico by Jo Ramundo

Shortly after moving to Montana in 2014, I did volunteer work at Wild Skies Raptor center in Potomac. This was the inspiration I needed to spark my desire to learn as much as I could about wildlife in general, but in particular about the wildlife in my new home. Six months later I moved to Hamilton and quickly connected with the Bitterroot Audubon and I was “hooked!” 

Excited about the wonders of the valley I decided to enroll in the Master Naturalist Program offered by the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula. This program gave me the confidence to apply as a volunteer at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico as an assistant ranger/ naturalist. I am a student of nature and not an expert by any means, but I hope to impart some of the love I feel for this very special Refuge by presenting a talk at the Audubon meeting. The presentation will introduce you to the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, including some of the birds and animals that live there, the upcoming Crane Festival, and a bit about the volunteer experience. 

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 to provide to provide “a refuge and breeding grounds for migratory and other birds” and to develop wintering grounds for Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes, which were then endangered. Located in southern New Mexico between the Chupadera Mountains in the west and the San Pascual Mountains in the east, “The Bosque” comprises over 55,000 acres including flood plains, wetland, irrigated farmland, arid grasslands and mountain foothills.

Today, this Refuge, managed by U.S Fish and Wildlife, attracts 398 different bird species including thousands of wintering Cranes and geese, waterfowl, shorebirds, and birds of prey. “The Festival of the Cranes,” an annual event hosted by The Friends of Bosque, draws people from all over the world to view these spectacular birds up close and to attend a myriad of photography and educational workshops. This event is held in November, the week before Thanksgiving.

Jo will share her incredible experiences as a volunteer assistant ranger/naturalist when she had the opportunity to work and live there for four months last year. She says that she “arrived when the cranes arrived and left when they left!”

Bitterroot Audubon invites you to come and learn about this special Refuge Monday October 15th, 7:00 P.M. in the Slack Barn at the TELLER WILDLIFE REFUGE.  The Teller is located just off of the Eastside Highway, north of Corvallis. Turn west onto Quast Lane and then left onto Chaffin/Creamery Lane. The public is invited. Contact Kay at 360-8664 for further information.