Friends and refuge staff at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge recently hosted an amazing long weekend of birding, nature, art and poetry via our Spring Migration Celebration (SMC) Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4. In our third year of hosting this event, we had an even more enthusiastic response than before – We sold 216 tickets to the SMC events totaling almost $8,000 in sales! We also had eighty-eight people join our Annual Meeting on Saturday evening, May 3. We hosted seventeen events over the three days, some cost-free or only $15. Many of our workshops sold out with attendance being capped at twelve participants each, providing a more intimate experience and individual attention from instructors.
The birds put on quite a show, with bird guide and expert Alex Harper sharing that Bosque del Apache was “one of this spring’s hotspots for migration through the southwest US, and the volume of birds was exciting to see!” Workshop participants were treated to sightings of huge numbers of swallows, especially Bank, Cliff, and Northern Rough-winged; loads of warblers, mostly Wilson’s but with a few of most expected species; Vermilion flycatchers, phalaropes, dowitchers, and more. Bonus birds were Northern Parula, and a Black-and-white Warbler seen while bird guides were scouting. Birding experts and engaging presenters, Holly Merker and Alex Harper taught thirteen total workshops, helping participants to identify birds by sight, sound and behavior, and also teaching how to simply enjoy the birds, even if you can’t remember their names!
Black-and-white Warbler | Photo by Ryan Schain/ Macaulay Library
Birds, Arts and the Arboretum
On Friday, May 2, we kicked off our celebration with two events. Holly and Alex led a birding excursion to Water Canyon in the nearby Magdalena Mountains, where participants saw some of New Mexico’s rarer montane nesting birds, including Grace’s Warblers, several Painted Redstarts (including birds visiting a nest), a Plumbeous Vireo, brief views of a Hepatic Tanager and Acorn Woodpeckers.
Participants, led by expert birding guides, Alex Harper and Holly Merker, visited Water Canyon in the nearby Magdalena Mountains.
That same day, those wanting to explore nature and poetry joined local writer Don Boyd on the refuge to share their love of birds, the natural world and the written word out on a trail amongst the trees at the refuge.
Refuge in Nature & Poetry workshop, led by author, Don Boyd.
On Saturday at the refuge, Friends hosted six more exciting birding workshops with Holly and Alex at the helm. In the afternoon, we held our annual Desert Arboretum Stroll to highlight the beauty of the blooming Chihuahuan Desert and a live art exhibit by talented local and internationally acclaimed wildlife sculptor, Sharon Fullingim, at work in the BdA plaza!
Desert Arboretum volunteers were on hand to greet guest and answer questions during Friends’ Annual Desert Arboretum Stroll.
Talented local and internationally acclaimed wildlife sculptor, Sharon Fullingim, gave a live art exhibit in the BdA plaza!
Friends Annual Meeting
Saturday evening, our celebration moved indoors to the Socorro Convention Center for Friends Annual Meeting, where our community enjoyed heavy appetizers, reports about refuge and Friends status and Friends financial report, and the film premiere of “A Refuge for All Seasons” by filmmaker and executive producer Christi Bode. The evening was capped by a thought-provoking keynote presentation, “Risking it All” by Laura Paskus, local reporter, author and senior NM PBS producer. For those who could not attend the Saturday night events, we recorded everything. Once editing is complete, we’ll release that video in June’s Bosque Watch e-newsletter.
Friends Board President, Jonathan Manley, gave the State of the Friends report during Annual Meeting.
During Annual Meeting, we also held the raffle drawing for a gorgeous New Mexico themed quilt, handcrafted and graciously donated by long-time Friends supporter, Jeri Leaverton, for Friends to raffle as a fundraiser. And what a successful fundraiser it was, generating $3,850 of much needed extra income for the refuge during these challenging times. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly towards supporting refuge needs and many important year-round projects at Bosque del Apache. The lucky winner whose name was drawn is Pamela Lee, Friends member supporting us from all the way in New Hampshire!
Forest Bathing and More Birding
The celebration continued Sunday morning with four more birding workshops on the refuge. Additionally in the afternoon, Holly also led a Forest Bathing experience on the John P. Taylor Trail where participants engaged their senses and unlocked the health and restorative benefits that the natural world holds. Another option on Sunday afternoon was a birding workshop led by Alex on the New Mexico Tech (NMT) campus in Socorro; participants were treated to many colorful birds – migratory swallows, vireos, warblers, tanagers and many others.
Celebrating our beautiful refuge during the peak of spring bird migration highlighted the importance of this vital public land and the critical role this unique place holds for all who visit – whether they be people, birds, or other flora or fauna. We are all part of nature, and a visit to the refuge at any time of year reminds us of the importance of protecting all nature for our own sustainability.
You Can Help Preserve Bosque del Apache’s Beauty
If you care about conserving New Mexico’s precious wildlife and habitats, please take action to help us continue our mission of supporting this critical wetland habitat, among the last remaining 2% of wetlands in the Desert Southwest.
- Upcoming Opportunity: June 7, 2025 will be “Defend National Monuments & Public Lands Day of Action“. Friends will provide more information as it becomes available.
- Your Voice Matters! – Contact your representatives and let them know how important America’s National Wildlife Refuges are. If you’ve never done this before and don’t know where to start, go to this website and enter your zip code.
- Your Support Can Help Fill the Gap – Give a donation to help minimize interruptions to important refuge programs and projects.
- Spread the Word – tell your friends and family about the importance of this critical wetland oasis in the desert, or better yet – invite them to join our mailing list so they will receive regular updates and newsletters. The more people who understand the importance of conservation, the bigger the impact we can have together! Also, bring them for a refuge visit so they can experience the magic of Bosque del Apache firsthand!
🗓️ Mark your calendars – we hope to see YOU at future Friends’ events:
- Summer Pollinator Celebration – August 16, 2025
- Wildlife Zone – October 18, 2025
- Festival of the Cranes – December 3-7, 2025