Every Fall, This Tiny Town In New Mexico Holds The Best Wildlife Festival In America
By Jessica Moore|Published October 17, 2022
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Jessica Moore
Author
Jessica is a storm chaser, photographer, meteorologist, and writer from Colorado. As a native of this beautiful state, she grew up with a love of the outdoors, and today enjoys hiking, rafting, skiing, and photographing landscapes and storms. She is also a mom to a beautiful little girl and loves life as an entrepreneur which allows her to be fully present for her daughter. She has been a writer for OnlyInYourState for just over 1 year and loves the opportunity to combine her loves of writing and travel to bring you the most exciting content for travel destinations across the country.
Autumn is a magical time of seasonal transition. From the changing leaves that bathe the landscape with golden-reddish hues to the unsettled weather and the crisp, cool air accompanying it, there is so much to enjoy and embrace about fall. If you’re looking for a unique way to soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of the season, you won’t want to miss what is arguably the best fall festival in America near a tiny New Mexico town that you’ve probably never heard of.
Every fall, near the tiny town of San Antonio, a host of migrating birds flock to the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Herons, ducks, snow geese, and sandhill cranes all make this beautiful preserve their temporary home during the late fall months. And every fall, the refuge hosts the Festival of Cranes, a weekend of thrilling activities that photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and the whole family will love.
You’ll want to make your way out to Bosque Del Apache in the pre-dawn hours for the best light before the sandhill cranes, herons, and snow geese fly away from their roosts in droves of hundreds and thousands into the skies. If you’re lucky, the conditions might align for a glorious sunrise to photograph and behold.
Morning mist often creates incredible atmospheric conditions for photography enthusiasts and professionals alike. And during the Festival of Cranes, there are a host of photography and wildlife workshops offered both virtually and in person that you won’t want to miss.
The magic of witnessing these incredible waterfowl in flight is undeniable. Drink in the peaceful serenity of nature with the diverse wildlife you will find present here. Be sure to visit in the morning and evening for the best light and to enjoy the refuge when it is most active, and exciting!
This festival is more than simply viewing the amazing wildlife diversity that exists at the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, it is about education. Bring children to the Wildlife Zone where partners of the refuge show rehabilitated wildlife such as birds, reptiles, and other mammals. Or stop by the Expo room for a ton of other educational information and photography workshops. But book early; these workshops sell out quickly!
Make your way back out to Bosque Del Apache in the late afternoon and enjoy the return of the waterfowl to their roosts. Watching them land on the water by the hundreds is exhilarating.
Many think that after the fall colors fade, there is not much to enjoy from a photography perspective in nature. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, as this is when wildlife is often most active and easy to photograph and witness. So, grab your binoculars or your camera, wait for the perfect morning or evening light, and watch nature come alive before your eyes!
There are limitless activities to enjoy at the Festival of Cranes every year. Hone your skills in waterfowl photography, get involved in conservation efforts, learn fun and interesting facts about the diverse ecosystem at the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and immerse yourself in nature. This late fall festival in New Mexico belongs on every photographer and nature lover’s bucket list.
Be sure to visit the event website to view festival dates and the full list of photography and educational workshops being offered, as well as to purchase tickets. This nearby town has several restaurants, historic old buildings, and lodging options to consider as well.
Have you experienced the Festival of Cranes at the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge? If so, we’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
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