Sandhill Crane Bosque del Apache

About this spectacle

Each winter, tens of thousands of sandhill cranes descend on the wetlands and fields of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico. The most dramatic moments come at dawn, when roosting cranes lift off the shallow ponds in thundering, noisy waves — a cascade of wingbeats and bugling calls that reverberates across the misty Rio Grande valley. At dusk, the birds return in long ribbons across a fiery southwestern sky, settling onto the water in coordinated, cacophonous landings. Snow geese and other waterfowl join the spectacle, adding white flashes to the grey-brown sea of cranes. The refuge's flat, open landscape and managed wetland pools allow visitors to observe from road pullouts and viewing platforms just feet from the action, making it one of the most accessible large-scale bird gatherings in North America. The sensory experience — sound, movement, and desert light — is unlike any other wildlife encounter in the American Southwest.

When to go

Oct — Mar, peak Nov — Feb

Getting there

Nearest airport: ABQ. Nearest city: Socorro.

Booking options

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