Starting in mid-November, the Rio Grande river has become the temporary home for thousands of migratory birds, including Sandhill cranes, and Canadian geese, according to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Migratory birds are attracted to flooded fields and wetlands with reliable food supply. The local Bosque ecosystem provides this habitat, with Albuquerque being within one of the four major bird migration corridors in the United States, according to the National Fish and Wildlife Service.
These ideal conditions are increasingly less reliable as the Rio Grande river water becomes scarce from less snowpack, according to Source NM. Dry conditions were visible this year as ponds once filled to their banks and teeming with geese and herons last year were now cracking soil with mud puddles, and hikers could walk on soil that was once the river.
Dry bosque conditions limit habitat for birds, insects and other species that provide essential nutrition, causing some scientists to predict that if this trend continues migratory birds will avoid New Mexico entirely in decades to come, according to Source NM.
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
More
PHOTO STORY: Welcome Back Days shines spotlight on student organizations, allows students to jumpstart their path
February 3The University of New Mexico held its second part of Welcome Back Days in the Student Union Building on Wednesday, Jan. 28. This day was centered around student organizations on campus, thus allowing students to get more information on how to become more involved and best suit their interests as they start a new semester. For those who love being active in sports, there were organizations represented such as UNM club tennis and Fusion ultimate frisbee. Those who love games could join clubs such as tabletop tavern or UNM’s chess club. Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
