Bosque del Apache/Festival of the Cranes questions

Hi, all...
It's been a while since I visited here (I could use with being a lot less busy at work, etc). As always, the pictures posted here are great and the tips and information better than any other forum I visit (and much more civil, too!).
I'm hoping to get some help for a trip I want to take. This fall I'd like to go to Bosque del Apache NWR in NM for the crane migration. I passed through there a couple of years ago in early October, which was obviously too early for the migration. All the information I can gather is that the migration is in mid-November, and the Festival of the Cranes is November 13-18th.
My questions (and thanks in advance for any help): Has anyone gone down for the festival? Would you rather go down just before or after the festival to get good pics, or is the festival worth it? Are the dates for the festival usually an accurate time frame for the migration?
I have to pick my vacations for the year soon, so I want to make sure I pick good dates.
Thanks!
Bob

The festival is timed pretty good at having good numbers of cranes there, but later in the month their numbers grow even more. You can go for the festival and see other waterfowl as well, but their numbers also increase later in the year. The first and second week in December are usually great, and actually over the Thanksgiving week is great as well. The only problem I have is with the crowds over the holiday week and festival week.

Richard Buquoi
Georgetown, TX

Thanks Richard!

I have been a number off time during the crane festival and yes there are more people but there are also some great displays. Several rehab centers bring live birds of prey. There is some great info to be gleened as well. The refuge offers some trips into areas that are normally closed. The crowds have not interfered with my photography as most people drive through the refuge without ever getting out of their car.

Living near the Bosque, I visit regularly. Like Richard said, the week of the festival and holiday weeks are crowded. The festival week is usually about as early as you would want to go to see the cranes and geese. There will be more birds later. This year I was there the last weekend in October and there were essentially no cranes/geese. Two weeks later, there were quite a few. The crowds can get overwhelming during the busiest times. I've been there when there is no space on the flight deck and the auto traffic is ridiculous. On the other hand, I was there just a week ago and the crowds were not bad at all. Regardless of the number of people though, the Bosque is a magical place to go. You never know what you'll see and the morning flyout is an experience everyone should have at least once.

I've been there mid-November, the weekend before the fesitval. Over 15,000 cranes arrived in two days. Quite a treat. There was still plenty of fall color left on the cottonwoods. So, I probably like that time of year best.

I've also visited in December and January. On those icy mornings, the cranes spend a little more time on the ponds thawing out, so the light was great for morning flight shots.

I've never visited during the festival. One of these years I will attend and just not worry about photography.

It would be hard to be disappointed with any trip to Bosque between mid-Nov and mid-Feb.
If you go during the festival or Thanksgiving make sure to get room reservations ASAP.

Thanks everyone!
I did make some reservations in Socorro just last night...I didn't want to wait too long. I'm really looking forward to this little outing.

I went in '06 immediately after the festival, maybe it was the 19th Nov, I am not sure, it was pretty busy with photo workshops etc but the birds were fantastic, the corn was cut close to the road so there were 20,000 snow geese and many cranes about 30 yards away, I had a great time, it was mild and the sunrise/sunsets were nice and red. . I have never been when the actual festival is on, I assumed it would be more crowded. Hotels are full during the festival of course and empty afterwards.

Bill

http://www.billmeikle.com

Bob,

Oh by the way there is a full moon I think in the first week of Feb which might affect your timing.

Bill

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm really looking forward to this trip!

How about late March? What bird species can I expect to see there? Specifically, are there still any cranes around?

Any lodging recommendations in Socorro?

Miguel,
I can't help you with most of your questions, however for lodging, the Holiday Inn Express at the north end of town (and conveniently near the Interstate) is pretty nice and priced reasonably.