Photos taken at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near San Antonio, New Mexico (not Texas) USA during the 2007 Festival of the Cranes, which celebrates the return of thousands of migratory birds to the Bosque del Apache NWR the week before Thanksgiving every year.

Never saw so many birds in one place in my life, not to mention the refuge is beautiful itself, even without birds. Actually, I was as impressed with the beauty of the landscape as much as I was with the number of birds it held and this was a good thing considering I’m not willing to spend thousands of dollars on the lenses necessary to photograph birds properly.

And many thanks to my next door neighbors during my stay here - PBasers Gayle (gpc) and Breland (bre) - for telling me about 'The Bosque' in the first place and for then getting me quickly oriented on my arrival in this marvelous place.