Sandhills on a Stroll

Those of you know Bosque NWR are well aware of how it has been managed. Lying along the fringes of the Rio Grande in NM, this is a fertile bit of acreage supporting huge populations of wildlife who make a living there, particularly the vast numbers of birds that overwinter, thereby attracting photographers like me. The birds have known to migrate there for the warm weather and promise of good feeding grounds. The refuge is a model of water management along this alluvial plain, with a series of canals and miniature locks which control the flow of this resource. For years the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has had an agreement with local farmers to allow planting and crop rotation, in return for their permission to selectively harvest certain crops. While there I learned from a staff member that recently these farmers weren't participating, and so the task was left to the staff. This year a portion of the north side (the farm loop) was closed for crop management in order for those fields to lay fallow and regenerate, so they opened up the northernmost extension and accordingly planted in those areas.

My recent trip there for BIF was pretty much a bust, but I did find this one appealing. This family had separated from the large flock. I liked the partial backlight and how they stood out from the crowd. Cropped to 4:3 aspect to suit posture of the birds.

7D2, 400 DO +1.4X, Wimberley I, ISO 100, 1/320 F6.3, + 1 1/3EV