Central Rio Grande shoot
Our visit to the central part of the Rio Grande in New Mexico was to focus on the idea of migration: migration of people, culture, art, and ecology. We went to the Bosque del Apache:
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque/
Flooding and controlling fields along the Rio Grande allow a place for migrating birds to rest and feed to prepare for their journey back home to Mexico. In the morning, the birds begin to speak to one another, deciding when to leave the water for the day, and leave en mass. During the day they feed, and at night the tens of thousands of birds return at once— quite a sight to see! And sound!
Aside from the distance— and extreme cold— the birds have disease to worry about, such as bird cholera. Melinda (pictured below) is riding with Larry, a Bosque worker, to record him retrieving deceased, diseased birds to contain the virus.
Many cottonwood and willow bosques that once lined the Rio Grande have been lost to human developments. Salt cedar, originally introduced as an ornamental plant and for erosion control, has taken over vast areas and has low wildlife value. Salt cedar is being cleared and areas planted with cottonwood and black willow plants to restore native bosques that have higher value for wildlife. We met the Rodriguez family, who through a conservation easement are working to get their land along the Rio Grande back into the shape it once was in memory of their father.
Our next shoot will be on the southern portion of the Rio Grande, where the river is the political border between Texas and Mexico.
I will be heading to the Danube in three days, and look forward to blogging about all that happens there!
Recent Comments