BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:4b2fd0412cfd0cadc484ef09405a8dcd CATEGORIES:North America CREATED:20170801T154417 SUMMARY:New Mexico: Bosque del Apache to Santa Fe DESCRIPTION:\nEvery winter tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese gather i n the stubble fields flanking the Río Grande in central New Mexico at Bosqu e del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. They are joined by thousands of Cana da Geese and enormous flocks of wild ducks. The spectacle of cranes and wat erfowl darkening the orange evening skies as they return to roost at the Bo sque is renowned as one of the most thrilling experiences available to bird watchers in the U.S. This is only one highlight of our tour through the “La nd of Enchantment,” the fifth largest state in the union and the best livin g symbol of both our pre-Colombian and Spanish colonial heritage. Although less well known, New Mexico also supports the fifth largest avifauna of the United States. Our leisurely, week-long tour will wander up the Río Grande Valley from Las Cruces to Santa Fe, skipping into the southwest corner to search for such specialty birds as Bridled Titmouse, Mexican Jay, and Acorn Woodpecker, and detouring up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, a 42 room apartm ent complex constructed in the 13th century by the people of the Mogollon c ulture. Late winter is an excellent time of the year to see New Mexico’s ar ray of raptors, some already commencing courtship and nesting. Among the sp ecies at the cliff dwellings are both Bald and Golden Eagles. Nearby desert valleys host literally hundreds of Red-tails and American Kestrels, and oc casional Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, and Prairie Falcons. Februar y also marks the onset of nuptial activities for both Crissal and Curve-bil led Thrashers, Gambel’s Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, and many o ther desert dwellers. After two nights at Silver City, a charming little fr ontier town with a mountain top university, and another two nights at Socor ro, savoring bird-filled sunrises and sunsets, we transfer to Santa Fe, the New Mexico state capital and, of course, arts capital of the entire United States. Established in 1610 as the provincial seat for New Spain, the city plaza that fronts Don Pedro de Peralta’s Palace of the Governors is still in use, nowadays a mecca for Native American vendors. Field excursions outs ide the small city, population 70,000, will lead us to the ruins at Pecos N ational Monument, Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, and up into the nearb y mountains. Some of the birds we hope to see include Rough-legged Hawk, Le wis’ Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie, and Townsend’s So litaire, as well as other boreal specialists from the high Rockies. There i s even a possibility of Northern Shrike and breeding-plumaged McCown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. If this birding excursion to the birthplace of Southwest culture sounds intriguing, we invite you to join us as we explor e the mosaic of deserts, mountains and watercourses that create the land of contrasts that is New Mexico.\nLeader:  John Yerger (index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=29:john-yerger&catid=18:leaders-and-sta ff&Itemid=155)\n (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id= 23:rick-taylor&catid=18:leaders-and-staff&Itemid=155)\nCost of New Mexico: Bosque del Apache to Santa Fe includes all meals, accommodations, e ntrance fees, and transportation beginning in El Paso, TX and ending in Alb uquerque, NM—$2795.\n(Note: most major airlines will ticket arrival in El P aso and departure from Albuquerque for the same fare as a roundtrip ticket. )\nTO REGISTER: Print out a PDF Registration Form (images/borderland/border land_tours_reg_v4.pdf), call us at (520) 558-2351 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloakaa2620031ad575439164305f313465f8').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'h r' + 'ef' + '='; var addyaa2620031ad575439164305f313465f8 = 'inf&# 111;' + '@'; addyaa2620031ad575439164305f313465f8 = addyaa2620031ad 575439164305f313465f8 + 'borderland-tours' + '. ' + 'com?subject=Tour%20registrat 05;on'; var addy_textaa2620031ad575439164305f313465f8 = 'send us an email';document.getElementById('cloakaa262003 1ad575439164305f313465f8').innerHTML += ''+addy_textaa2620031ad57543916 4305f313465f8+''; .\nSee also: Arizona Winter Specialties (December 3-9, 2017 OR December 2-8, 2018)\n Photo: Sandhill Crane scene\nPhoto by: Rick T aylor\n\n(Photo Gallery under construction)   X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Sand hill Crane scene. Photo by Rick Taylor. Copyright <strong>Borderland Tours< /strong>. All rights reserved.

Every < /span>winter tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese gather in the stubble fields flanking the Río Grande in central New Mexico at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. They are joined by thousands of Canada Geese and enormous flocks of wild ducks. The spectacle of cranes and water fowl darkening the orange evening skies as they return to roost at the Bosq ue is renowned as one of the most thrilling experiences available to birdwa tchers in the U.S. This is only one highlight of our tour through the “Land of Enchantment,” the fifth largest state in the union and the best living symbol of both our pre-Colombian and Spanish colonial heritage. Although le ss well known, New Mexico also supports the fifth largest avifauna of the U nited States. Our leisurely, week-long tour will wander up the Río Grande V alley from Las Cruces to Santa Fe, skipping into the southwest corner to se arch for such specialty birds as Bridled Titmouse, Mexican Jay, and Acorn W oodpecker, and detouring up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, a 42 room apartmen t complex constructed in the 13th century by the people of the Mogollon cul ture. Late winter is an excellent time of the year to see New Mexico’s arra y of raptors, some already commencing courtship and nesting. Among the spec ies at the cliff dwellings are both Bald and Golden Eagles. Nearby desert v alleys host literally hundreds of Red-tails and American Kestrels, and occa sional Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, and Prairie Falcons. February also marks the onset of nuptial activities for both Crissal and Curve-bille d Thrashers, Gambel’s Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Verdin, and many oth er desert dwellers. After two nights at Silver City, a charming little fron tier town with a mountain top university, and another two nights at Socorro , savoring bird-filled sunrises and sunsets, we transfer to Santa Fe, the N ew Mexico state capital and, of course, arts capital of the entire United S tates. Established in 1610 as the provincial seat for New Spain, the city p laza that fronts Don Pedro de Peralta’s Palace of the Governors is still in use, nowadays a mecca for Native American vendors. Field excursions outsid e the small city, population 70,000, will lead us to the ruins at Pecos Nat ional Monument, Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, and up into the nearby mountains. Some of the birds we hope to see include Rough-legged Hawk, Lewi s’ Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie, and Townsend’s Soli taire, as well as other boreal specialists from the high Rockies. There is even a possibility of Northern Shrike and breeding-plumaged McCown’s and Ch estnut-collared Longspurs. If this birding excursion to the birthplace of S outhwest culture sounds intriguing, we invite you to join us as we explore the mosaic of deserts, mountains and watercourses that create the land of c ontrasts that is New Mexico.

Leade r:  John Yerger

Cost of New Mexico: Bosque del Apache to Santa Fe includes all meal s, accommodations, entrance fees, and transportation beginning in El Paso, TX and ending in Albuquerque, NM—$2795.

(Note: m ost major airlines will ticket arrival in El Paso and departure from Albuqu erque for the same fare as a roundtrip ticket.)

TO REGISTER:  Print out a  ;PDF Registration Form,< /span> call us at (520) 558-2351 or T his email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript ena bled to view it..

See also: Arizona Winter Specialties  (December 3-9, 2017 OR December 2-8, 2018)

Photo: Sandhill Crane scene
Photo by: Rick Taylor

photogal icon< /p>

(Photo Gallery under construction)
 
 
DTSTAMP:20260409T125359 DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix;VALUE=DATE:20180217 DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix;VALUE=DATE:20180226 SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR