Festival of the Cranes

Sunday, January 22, 2012

This is the final post for the Festival of the Cranes.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Thank you Everyone!

Thank you all for making the 2011 Festival of the Cranes a great success!

We appreciate your participation - thank you everyone from all over New Mexico, the US and other countries for coming and joining us for our workshops and lectures and tours!

We invite you to attend next year, too.

We also wish to thank the many, many valued volunteers who make the Festival possible.

Thanks to the Refuge, Refuge Manager Tom Melanson, and Fish & Wildlife staff and biologists; the city of Socorro; the Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR and our Festival Coordinators - Robyn Harrison and the Friends' executive director, Leigh Ann Vradenburg and our Bosque Nature Store Manager, Shirleen Greenwood. and our art tent participants and exhibitors

Many dedicated people work each year

to create a Festival highlighting

the beauty and importance of

the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

for all birds and wildlife which rely on it for their survival

and to create a Festival full of joy for the world we share with them

Friday, November 18, 2011

Official Bird Count as of November 17, 2011

The Festival is in Full Swing!

Refuge Biologist Official Bird Count as of November 17, 2011

Ducks .... 97,174
Canada Geese .... 285
Light Geese .... 46,264
Sandhill Cranes .... 4,511
Bald and Golden Eagles .... 5
Swans .... 0
American White Pelicans .... 0
American Coot .... 2410
Marsh and Water Birds .... 15
Shorebirds .... 6
Gulls and Terns .... 1
Hawks and Owls .... 17

Saturday, October 8, 2011

This is what you've been waiting for!

Festival of the Cranes T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, collector mug and collector pin are now available for sale in our Bosque Nature Store where you can pay securely with your credit card through PayPal!

Sales from our store support the Friends many great projects- FriendsoftheBosque.org

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Breaking News

The Festival of the Cranes will be using this blog exclusively from August 25 to Sept 15 to post any changes, cancellations or additions in the schedule of events for the 2011 Festival of the Cranes; and after that date, our Festival website, FestivaloftheCranes.com, and this blog will both bring you any Breaking News!

Thanks! This year will be another great Festival!

Please plan to come!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Registration for 2011 Festival of the Cranes starts September 1, 2011

2011 Registration for Festival of the Cranes does not start until September 1, 2011,

This year the procedure is different and you have an excellent online choice

which we encourage you to use.

You can, however, register by fax, mail or phone.

We look forward to seeing you this year!!

24th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE CRANES 2011
Nov 15-20, 2011
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Festival Photo Contest deadline

Festival of the Cranes Photo Contest

(please see FestivaloftheCranes.com for all rules and regs and info!)

Submissions must be received by October 21, 2011, 5:00 PM MDT.

Fidel Center, New Mexico Tech Socorro

Important Note:2011- Macey Center at New Mexico Tech is under construction, so lectures have been moved to the Fidel Center though parking will still be at the Macey Center. See the Socorro Map on the Maps Page of the Festival web site for the location of the Fidel Center and for parking at Macey Center. Please Allow a little extra time to walk to the Fidel Center.

The Macey Center auditorium WILL BE OPEN.

2011 Schedule is up online!

The NEW 2011 Festival Events Schedule

Is now available, including pre-Festival!

FestivaloftheCranes.com

(2011 Registration for Festival of the Cranes starts September 1, 2011)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Two Keynote Speakers

News! Festival of the Cranes 2011

Two Keynote Speakers for 2011!

DR. TRAVIS PERRY, Mountain Lion Researcher

BIG CATS AT THE BOSQUE

8:00 pm to 9:30 pm Thursday $5 Macey Center Auditorium, Socorro

MARK OBMASCIK

The Big Year: From book to the big screen

8:00 PM to 9:30 PM Saturday - $5 Macey Center Auditorium, Socorro

Performing Arts Series is bringing the John Jorgenson Quintet to the Festival—gypsy swing

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

End of Festival 2010

Full Moon Rising 2010...farm loop, BdA NWR

Leigh Ann Vradenburg, Executive director Friends of the Bosque del Apache NWR, and John Vradenburg, head biologist are pictured below standing outside the Art Show Tent during the final day of the Festival.

This was a hugely successful Festival - participants and exhibitors were happy, and many visitors to the Refuge were very pleased with the condition of the Refuge- it was perfect! So many were excited by the numbers of wintering birds and great visibility and viewing. People were lined up taking photos at various locations on the refuge, and cranes and geese were close, much to the thrill of the visitors!

We would all like to thank the many tireless and generous volunteers. The Festival absolutely could not have happened without your help! More than 50 volunteers staffed the hospitality tent and the information table at Macey Center in Socorro. More than 30 other volunteers drove vans, fixed meals and worked their hearts out to make this an enjoyable and successful event.

Everyone involved loves and is dedicated to the Refuge, and strives to have visitors feel the same connection to the birds and wildlife and the beautiful and critical habitat!

We are all in this together!

Thanks everyone for a fantastic Festival 2010!

Again, Thank you to our Festival attendees, our wonderful Festival volunteers, our many participants, the great refuge staff, the fine City of Socorro, Friends of the Bosque and everyone who helped and supported us during the popular 23rd Festival of the Cranes 2010!

We could never do this without your help!