The day was sunny and in the upper 30’s. The entrance to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, formerly home of the dairy farmer, is now on the north side of the building. The refuge development is ongoing and the traffic is rerouted.
There were 11 participants: Tom Dorr, Leader, Lucy Silva, Ken Neundorf, Tracey Watson, Susan Hering, Sue Spaven, Helene Kiecolt, Tony Wahl, Carol & Bob Diggelman and Kathleen Rhoad. The group walked to the Rio Grande and then north through the Bosque and on the dirt road by the canal.. We saw two Red-tailed Hawks, a porcupine, Bluebirds, two Turkey Vultures and Yes, a Bald Eagle soaring over it’s hunting territory! We also saw hundreds of Canada Goose and 5 or 6 Sandhill Cranes.
We went into the Visitor Center before we departed and looked at architectural drawings of the 570 acre refuge plan, and future new Visitors’ Center w/ viewing deck overlooking the wetlands on the west side, being constructed. There will also be walking trails.
Of note, the third Saturday of every month the Friends of the refuge host breakfast and birding. Also, Valle de Oro has been declared an urban dark sky: https://www.darksky.org/valle-de-oro-unsp/
