THE SANDHILL CRANES ARE BACK IN ALBUQUERQUE. BETH DILLINGHAM IS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE RIO GRANDE NATURE CENTER STATE PARK, WHERE 15-THOUSAND CRANES ARE EXPECTED THIS FALL AND WINTER. SHE SAYS SEVERAL HUNDRED OF THEM STAY AROUND THE ALBUQUERQUE, WHILE THE REST HEAD SOUTH TO THE BOSQUE DEL APACHE.
THE FIRST BIG GROUPS OF CRANES ARE STARTING TO ARRIVE AT THE NATURE CENTER, AND THE POPULATION BUILDS AS THE WEATHER GETS COLDER IN LATE NOVEMBER, INTO DECEMBER. IN ADDITION TO CRANES, DILLINGHAM SAYS THE NATURE CENTER IS ALSO SEEING A WIDE VARIETY OF DUCKS AND GEESE.
