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New Wave Rafting New Mexico Whitewater Rafting
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New Wave Rafting Blog

Whitewater Rafting in Northern New Mexico

Bald Eagles of the Rio Grande

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Filed Under: Nature
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Populations On The Rise

The Bald Eagles of the Rio Grande are a winter time visitor that makes venturing out in the chilly temperatures well worth it.

The bald eagle population has climbed to an estimated 316,700 individual in the lower 48 states with 71,400 nesting pairs. Seems that the decades of protection, the ban on DDT and numerous conservation efforts have been key in the comeback. Now that’s some GREAT news.

Flying low on the Rio Grande.

The above image was taken in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Cruising low just above the rivers’ surface one would assume is a characteristic fishing technique. However, coming from a high perch, be it a cliff side boulder or a tall pine tree, seems to be a more effective method.  Check out Big Day for Wildlife.

Bald Eagle catches a fish.

For instance, just downstream of the Taos Junction Bridge, the above Bald Eagle flew a few feet off the waters’ surface and quickly grabbed breakfast. For some, the mid November arrival of the Bald Eagles to the Rio Grande marks the coming of winter. Their migration back north in mid February assures the coming of spring.

For more on the topic visit the US Department of the Interior article.

Thanks For Stopping In!

Big Day For Wildlife, 2-25-19

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Filed Under: Nature
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Yesterday (2-25-19) was a big day for wildlife viewing in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, in northern New Mexico. Shucks, it’s only a National Monument, but has populations of wildlife that rival National Parks. And this is especially so in the winter, when a variety of northern ducks and bald eagles arrive at the generally ice-free waters of the Rio Grande to winter.

In less than an hour’s time, I was able to observe and photograph the creatures that follow. This first movie is of a pair of mallards feeding on midges that have been caught up in foam.

Not over two miles upstream, I spotted a group of bighorn ewes and young, part way up the slope on the far side of the river.

After filming this group of sheep, I looked back down at the river, and saw a long cylindrical shape in the water, which was, of course, an otter. I was seated in my van, using it as a blind, and the otter was about 160′ away (measured with Google Earth), so it was not alarmed. It swam leisurely up and down along the shoreline for a few minutes, before climbing out of the river.