Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - Socorro, New Mexico Sanctuary for Migrating Birds

In Spanish, Bosque del Apache means "woods of the Apache,'' a reference to Native American tribes that once camped here in the forest along the Rio Grande. Seven centuries ago, the area was home to Piro Indians, pueblo dwellers who farmed the valley, raised turkeys, gathered fruit, and hunted wildlife.

Today, the 57,191 acres of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge provide sanctuary for tens of thousands of migratory birds that journey down from the north each autumn. Familiar species seen here include sandhill cranes, geese, and ducks. They blanket the feeding areas by day and roost in the marshes by night.

Occasionally bald eagles can be seen in winter. Warblers, flycatchers, and shorebirds are common in the spring and fall, while songbirds and waders are plentiful during the summer months. The Bosque del Apache also has year-round avian residents, such as turkey, quail, pheasant, and roadrunners. And there are numerous mammals in the Refuge, too - muskrats, porcupines, mule deer, and coyote.

To get to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge from Socorro, New Mexico, head south on Interstate 25. Take Exit 139 toward San Antonio and follow Route 380 for a half mile to Old Highway 1. The Visitors Center is nine miles further on, open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4pm and on weekends from 8am to 4:30pm. Driving the loop tour around the Refuge is possible from one hour before sunrise until an hour after sunset.