If you've never heard of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, you're missing out...
With more than 57,000 beautiful acres, this place is home to incredible bird life thanks to the strict management of the wetland water levels that simulate seasonal water flow before the Rio Grande was dammed.
Furthermore, the surrounding fields are planted with various grains - corn, millet, and winter wheat among them - to feed the vast array of birds that visit the refuge over the winter.
Bosque del Apache was founded in 1939, and thanks to its protections, 371 species of birds (along with many other types of animals) have been observed within the refuge's boundaries.
Needless to say, if you're a bird photographer, this place is your ideal playground!
Quick Tip:
Your vehicle can serve as a mobile blind from which you can photograph otherwise timid subjects (such as the Bufflehead Duck shown below) in nearby waterways.
For sharp images, use a bean bag filled with rice, beans, or birdseed on the window sill of your car to support your lens. Note: In many locations along the loop road, refuge regulations require you stay in your vehicle.
Let's examine two of the most popular birds you'll find here, with a few tips for capturing breathtaking photos.
Editor's Note: The images used in this article are by our friends at Osprey Photo Workshops and Tours, and are used with permission.
Sandhill Cranes
One of the most populous birds in the refuge in the winter months, Sandhill Cranes are perhaps one of the most common subjects for bird photographers in this area.
The cranes - and other waterfowl - spend the night in the waters of the refuge to protect themselves from predators.
Then, once morning comes, they take off en masse to seek out food - a spectacle that draws bird photographers from around the world to document with their cameras.
Of course, the tricky part about photographing these "lift offs" is getting sharp photos of birds in flight.
Quick Tip:
For the sharpest results, you need to use a fast shutter speed (i.e., 1/1000 seconds or above). To achieve fast shutter speeds, you'll need to watch the ISO as well.
Though you don't want to crank the ISO too high for fear of introducing too much noise, set it as high as the camera will allow that still gives you clean results.
Also be sure to use a tripod or monopod to stabilize your camera as you shoot!
Snow Geese
Like Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese flock to this area in the winter months.
In fact, estimates are that more than 50,000 Snow Geese call the Bosque del Apache home during the wintertime.
As you can imagine, so many Snow Geese in one area makes for spectacular photo ops of the birds roosting, feeding, flying, and landing in the fields.
The geese take off in the early morning hours like the Sandhill Cranes, and then return again in the evening in an equally spectacular show.
This gives you the opportunity to make creative use of dramatic backlighting as shown below...
Quick Tip:
When creating silhouettes, underexposed the shot by one or two stops.
This will deepen the blacks in the silhouettes while also giving you a more saturated sky with more intense colors.
Also think about how you can capture action in the silhouette.
Whether that's birds coming in for a landing, feeding, or "talking" to one another, an action shot will add drama and interest to your silhouetted photos.
Just remember to give yourself plenty of time to get to your vantage point and get your gear setup so that you don't miss out on the most vivid colors of sunrise or sunset for your silhouette photos.
Where to Capture Photos
Bosque del Apache is easily accessible via its 12-mile-long tour loop, which is divided into a South Loop and North Loop, the former which travels through marshlands and the latter that offers views of farmland.
The two loops are unpaved one-way roads that connect you to various viewing areas.
Perhaps the most popular viewing area - the Flight Deck observation platform at the Main Pool - offers breathtaking views of the morning lift offs and the return of the cranes and geese in the evenings.
Quick Tip:
Keep your eyes open for potential subjects such as the Great Blue Heron pictured above.
Plan your approach. Consider the quality and direction of the light plus the background behind the subject.
Pre-select your lens and camera settings to capture that perfect image you have envisioned. Be intimately familiar with your camera so you don’t miss a great shot.
Don’t forget to check out the desert garden near the visitor's center where feeders attract small birds such as Spotted Towhees, Curve-billed Thrashers, White-crowned Sparrows, and quail.
Quick Tip:
Patience is the key to great wildlife photography.
Take the time to observe behavior and anticipate action. If one individual approaches another, be prepared with your camera focused on the subjects. You might capture a loving embrace or a fight as with these two rival Gambel’s Quail.
Perhaps the most popular viewing area - the Flight Deck observation platform at the Main Pool - offers breathtaking views of the morning lift offs and the return of the cranes and geese in the evenings.
Quick Tip:
There are plenty of other vantage points for bird photography as well, including shallow pools along Highway 1, where spectacular sunrise and sunset photos can be taken.
Be prepared to capture images of large groups of geese and cranes lifting off the ponds in unison by paying attention to their behavior.
Flocks of Snow Geese often become noisy and individuals start looking around nervously before flight.
In the case of Sandhill Cranes, they commonly lean forward before taking off as demonstrated in the photo below.
A quick hike down the John P. Taylor Memorial Trail also offers up-close views of birds feeding in the fields. Turkey are often spotted trouting down paths. You might even get to see predators like foxes or perhaps even a bobcat in this area as well.
When to Visit Bosque del Apache
Though this area is prime real estate for bird photography year round, the winter months offer scenes that are unparalleled due to the tens of thousands of cranes and geese that winter there.
November through January is the best time to capture photos of these birds. The cool mornings typically offer clear skies and favorable weather during the day. Temperatures can vary greatly during the day, so dress in layers.
To make your trip even more successful, consider joining a photography workshop and tour of the area.
Osprey Photo Workshops and Tours offers a top-notch workshop in late November 2018.
The workshop is limited to just eight participants, and with two seasoned photographers in Sandy Zelasko and Irene Hinke-Sacilotto, you get plenty of one-on-one time with the instructors to help you develop your craft.
You'll spend mornings and evenings at Bosque del Apache, photographing the many hundreds of species of birds (and other wildlife) that are found there in popular viewing areas as well as spots off the beaten path that get you away from the crowds.
While out shooting, the instructors will provide field sessions, instruction, and image critiques.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to photograph some of the most spectacular birds on earth occurs November 26-30, 2018.
Registration is currently open, so reserve your spot today!