Friday at the Festival of the Cranes

Today ( this is just a sampling of the dozens of tours and workshops!) we are looking forward to Black Belt Birding workshop/tour, Sandhill Crane Behavior, Birds of New Mexico -
Since New Mexico's wildlife habitats range from semi-arid desert to coniferous forests, it is no wonder that the bird life here is diverse. Mary Alice Root, past president of the New Mexico Ornithological Society, will give a slide presentation on birding in New Mexico, and later on she will also conduct "A Birder's Guide to the Evolution of Birds." She will explain how we know that birds shared the skies with the pterosaurs and the shallow seas and shorelines with the dinosaurs, and will discuss the over 200 million year evolution of birds. Fascinating!
There are so many offerings here at the Festival! A new one for me is a lecture "Principles of Stalking Bird Photography" by veteran birder John Shipman who enjoys the type of bird photography that emphasizes portability, going on foot almost anywhere a birdwatcher with binoculars would go - it's bird photography without tripods!
All About Raptors with Dr. Kathleen Ramsay is a comprehensive course on the identification of birds of prey, combining live demonstration birds, photographs and field observation to help us learn to recognize the plumage variations in red-tailed hawks to telling the age of an immature bald eagle. Dr. Kathleen Ramsay started the Wildlife Center in Espanola, NM, over 20 years ago and provides veterinary care for hundreds of raptors every year. She is also one of the primary field veterinarians for the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.
oh yes and the Sevilleta Geology Tour! We will see areas of Sevilleta not open to the public. This is one of the rare opportunities the Festival provides along with
More news later, and we sure hope Jerry will add photos of the SUNGREBE!