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Where the Wild Things Are ; Observe Native, Migrating and Exotic Species at Nearby Parks and Refuges

Posted on: Friday, 30 September 2005, 18:00 CDT

By DON LAINE

New Mexico has a wild side that is easy to experience between events at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Here are some of the options available in and around Albuquerque:

Rio Grande Zoo

Zoos have come a long way in the past few decades and New Mexico's largest zoo has kept up with the times, providing spacious, natural-looking enclosures and attractive landscaping for the animals there. The 64-acre zoo has some 1,200 animals representing about 250 species, including polar bears, Bengal tigers, jaguars, giraffes, gorillas, the ever-popular elephants, sea lions and a number of Southwestern species. Public feedings of the sea lions and seals are held daily, usually about 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The Africa exhibit area, which opened in December, has 17 exhibits with about two dozen species of mammals and birds, including hippos, cheetahs, chimpanzees, spotted hyenas, Marabou storks and Lady Ross' turacos. There's also a three-quarter scale train offering rides daily.

Allow three to four hours to walk the zoo's 2\ miles of paths.

Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

A refreshing oasis along the Rio Grande, the nature center covers 170 acres of woods and meadows. In addition to the Rio Grande, it has a threeacre pond that helps attract more than 260 species of birds.

This is the beginning of the fall migration season and among the migrating species to watch for are ring-necked ducks and American wigeons in the pond, and whitecrowned sparrows and darkeyed juncos in the drier areas, says interpretative ranger Rob Yaksich. Sandhill cranes, mostly in small family groups, might also be seen, and you'll likely see year-round residents such as gadwalls, canvasbacks and pintails.

The park is also home to turtles, often seen sunning themselves on logs in the pond, plus toads, lizards, rabbits, squirrels and coyotes.

"Come early to mid-morning or in the afternoon after 3:30 p.m.," says Yaksich, "stop, sit down, relax and watch." Viewing blinds provide close-up views and feeding stations attract birds.

Visitor center exhibits describe the park's flora and fauna, and an observation room, complete with a sound system, overlooks the pond and lets you see the birds (and usually turtles) while bringing the sounds of the pond into the room.

The easy 1-mile Riverwalk Trail meanders through the bosque and along the river. The slightly shorter Bosque Loop Trail is an easy walk through the bosque with a spur to the river.

Bosque is a Spanish word for woodlands that in New Mexico often describes the wooded wetlands along rivers, particularly along the Rio Grande.

The nature center offers a variety of programs, including guided birding walks each Saturday and Sunday. At this time of year the walks start at 8:30 a.m. and usually finish by 10 a.m.

Wildlife West Nature Park

Creatures unable to survive in the wild have a home at this park east of Albuquerque near the community of Edgewood. The park contains about two dozen species of native New Mexico animals and birds -- about 30 mammals and 10 birds -- and visiting humans can see them along a walking trail of just more than 1 mile.

"You can experience wildlife here that it would take you years to experience out in the wild," says park founder Roger Alink, who calls a visit here an "immersion into the native species of plants and animals of New Mexico."

Because the animals and birds at the nature park were rescued -- due to injuries, bad habits and other factors -- they are more socialized to people than wildlife found in zoos. The nature park's newest resident, Koshari, a black bear that became too fond of the houseboats at Navajo Lake, often greets visitors, as do many of the nature park's other wildlife, Alink says.

Among the creatures you'll meet are mountain lions, wolves, deer, elk, pronghorn, javelina, raccoons and hawks. Each bird and mammal is named and signs give a bit of its life history and explain why it can't be released back into the wild.

The park is also a stopover for migrating birds. At this time of year you might see kingfishers, great blue herons, snowy egrets, and various ducks and geese. There are blinds to allow better viewing. You'll also see a variety of New Mexico native plants at the 122- acre park.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Among the best places in New Mexico to see wildlife, the 57,000- acre refuge straddles the Rio Grande at the northern edge of the Chihuahuan desert. It is home to tens of thousands of birds and a variety of mammals and other wildlife.

The name Bosque del Apache is Spanish for "woods of the Apaches" and came from Spanish settlers who saw that Apache Indians frequently camped here.

About 1{ hours south of Albuquerque, the refuge attracts more than 300 species of birds, according to Bosque del Apache's Maggie O'Connell. Some are yearround residents, including red-winged blackbirds, western meadowlarks, American kestrels, ringnecked pheasants and wild turkeys. Others, however, make the bosque their winter home, arriving during the fall and departing in spring.

"During the first two weeks of October, visitors might see migrating songbirds such as western tanagers and Wilson's warblers, plus red-tailed hawks, long-billed dowitchers, greater yellowlegs and great blue herons," says O'Connell.

Sandhill cranes, identified by their long legs and gray coloring, usually make their annual appearance at the refuge in mid- to late October. Also watch for ducks, Canada geese, golden and bald eagles, and several species of sparrows.

About 50 species of mammals are at the refuge. You'll likely see coyotes -- probably in search of a goose dinner -- and possibly mule deer, elk and bobcats.

Stop first at the visitor center to examine the exhibits, pick up a free refuge newspaper with a map of the 15-mile auto tour loop, and check on recent bird and wildlife sightings. Out on the auto tour you will often get closer to the wildlife by staying in your vehicle, which acts as a blind. There are also several nature trails. See the animals

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Grounds open daily one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; visitor center open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekends

About 100 miles south of Albuquerque; follow signs from I-25 Exit 139

$3 per vehicle

(505) 835-1828, www.fws.gov/southwest/ refuges/newmex/bosque/ index.html

Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

Trails open 24 hours daily; visitor center open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; parking lot open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and padlocked when visitor center closes

2901 Candelaria Road NW, Albuquerque

$3 per vehicle

(505) 344-7240, nmparks.com

Rio Grande Zoo

9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

903 10th St. SW, Albuquerque

$7 adults, $3 children ages 3-12 and seniors 65 and older

(505) 764-6200, cabq.gov/biopark

Wildlife West Nature Park

10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily during summer; noon-4 p.m. during winter

About 19 miles east of Albuquerque off I-40, Exit 187, Edgewood

$5 adults, $4 children and senior citizens

(877) 981-9453, (505) 281-7655, wildlifewest.org

Source: Albuquerque Journal

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