Snow geese drift down like frozen flakes onto the fields at New Mexico's Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio. Each year tens of thousands of light geese travel south to over winter at the refuge. They spend their day flying in and out of fields and retention ponds, making for beautiful vistas for those who choose to watch. If predictions are correct snow geese may have some competition tomorrow, as real snow is predicted to arrive. We'll see what the weather brings!

Just felt like posting a photo this evening. There's just no better palette than the New Mexico sky. Even with all the bad weather we had the week I was at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge I still came home amazed at the sky. There is just something magical about the Land of Enchantment. It will keep me coming back

Autumn is almost upon us and across areas of the country snow will begin to fall. It will fall not just as silent icy flakes, but also as cacophonous feathered fowl. In this photo snow geese fly out to the fields in New Mexico's Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, after a long migration from the northern reaches of the American continent. Snow geese are foragers that feed on a variety of roots, shoots, and grains. They are some of nature's most successful animals. Some environmentalist believe that they may be too successful, and that their large numbers may be damaging the delicate northern tundra. It is an area that requires more study. These large flocks are, without doubt, I sight to see and hear. #ILoveBirds #ILoveNature #ILoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in the #USA #SnowGeese #ItsSnowingGeese #Geese #Birds #Birding #Photography #Picoftheday #Photooftheday

Snow geese fly off into the eastern evening sky in New Mexico's Bosque del Apache refuge. They will find a shallow pond to sleep in for the night. The water helps protect them from potential predators. Even if predators enter the water, the sounds of splashing will alert the geese to the potential danger. The pastel colors of the evening sky are surreal. It is a most beautiful time of the day. #ILoveNature #ILoveWidlife #WildlifeaPhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #America #USA #Canon #SnowGeese #Sunset #DrDADBooks #Bringit #Photography

With certainty, there are many places that people can photograph snow geese. These are some of the most successful birds on the planet, with their populations expanding at an amazing pace. But photographing them against the landscapes of New Mexico is somehow special. The mountains, pastel skies, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and unpredictable weather changes make for such an interesting palette. A photograph that might otherwise be uninteresting against a blue sky, suddenly takes new form when the ground rises up to meet the heavens. Bosque del Apache NWR is one of this country's top bird viewing sites. It's well worth the trip. Friendly, informative people and programs at the refuge make it a great place to spend a few days. #ILoveNature #ILoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #America #USA #SnowGeese #BosquedelApacheNWR #Canon #Bringit #DrDADBooks #Photography #Picoftheday #Photooftheday

The moon peeks through a break in the clouds over Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico. It is the morning twilight and snow geese fill the skies during the fly-out. They have spent the night in the shallow retention ponds of the refuge. The water provides some measure of protection and early warning from predators like coyotes. At the first hint of light the geese begin to fly out to the fields where they will spend their day in search of leftover grain to eat. Each year the snow geese migrate south from some of the most northern reaches of North America, finding respite here at the Bosque. The sounds and sights of large flocks of geese are a moving experience, especially for those who have never experienced this before.

Snow geese pass their winter days in search of food and evening shelter. They comb the fields and shallow waters for food during the day and look for sheltered bodies of water to swim in during the night. They form large flocks during migration and frequently move from place to place together. They are some of nature's most successful animals. Despite the changes in the world due to human encroachment on nature, they still manage to thrive. Their numbers are ever increasing. #IloveNature #IloveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #America #USA #Canon #Bringit #SnowGeese #DrDADBooks #ItsSnowingGeese #Photography #Picoftheday #Photooftheday

When young birds are first hatched they identify with the first animal that cares for and feeds them. The descriptive term for this behavior is "imprinting." This characteristic is extremely strong in geese. In cases where nestlings have been raised by humans, the birds now identify with humans and lose their ability to carry on normal goose behavior, including migration. This behavior is characteristic of birds but is stronger in some birds than others. It is used extensively in falconry. A young falcon is trained and raised by humans. The bird, if taught, will hunt and then return to its caregiver rather than flying off into the wild. Endangered whooping cranes have been taught to follow whooping crane puppets and ultra light aircraft. In the movie, "Fly Away Home" young geese become imprinted on the young girl who raises them. She realizes that she must teach them to migrate, else they may not survive the winter. She leads them with an ultra light plane on a migration route in the hope that they will learn this. Basically, if you want a baby bird to return to the wild then you shouldn't hand feed it.

From the flight deck at Bosque del Apache NWR thousands of snow geese lift off in unison. Snow geese have this ability to synchronize their take off. It makes for a wonderful an noisy display. They perform this ritual over, and over again throughout the day. At times they return to the same area that they just left, and at other times they fly off into another direction. It is one of the sights that people travel to see. At close range the vista can be spectacular.

Light geese take to the air at New Mexico's Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Light geese are a combination of the more notable Snow Goose and Ross' goose. Snow geese come in two color morphs; the traditional white snow goose, and the blue morph. The two morphs interbreed, and apparently a goose will pick a mate that is similar to the parent pair. So if a snow goose was born of a mixed morph pair then it is more likely to do the same when it picks a mate. Whether at a distance, or in close proximity, these birds put on a fantastic show when taking to the air. When they gather by the thousands and begin to fly it really can seem like it's snowing geese!

Photographing geese and cranes at Bosque del Apache NWR provides ample opportunity to try out different techniques and processes. Motion blurring with birds is always an interesting concept. Too much blur and you don't know what you're looking at. Not enough blur and you might as well be shooting "stop action" shots. Most wildlife is photographed at shutter speeds above 1/500th of a second. For motion blur, slowing your shutter speed down to 1/40 of a second or so and panning with the moving animal is the way to go. Experimenting with a variety of shutter speeds is always fun. The end result conveys movement, even though you've got a still photograph.

For those of you on the move today and tomorrow, for this most travelled day of the year, take care and be safe. Remember, life's a blur. Take a few moments every day to enjoy the things around you. Try to anticipate problems. Travel with safety in mind.

#ILoveNature #ILoveWildife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #America #USA #SnowGeese #MotionBlur #BosquedelApacheNWR #Canon #Bringit #DrDADBooks #Photography #PIcoftheday #Photooftheday

It's just after sunset on the north end loop at Bosque del Apache refuge. Snow geese that have gathered there this evening decide it's time to take to the air in search of water. They have filled their bellies and will now make their way to the safety of the many crane and goose ponds that populate the refuge. It starts somewhere in the flock with an idea, ever so subtle and sudden. Then, almost simultaneously, the geese explode into the air, as if with a collective conscience. They are somehow connected in ways we cannot yet imagine. Fascinating! #ILoveBirds #iLoveNature #ILoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #America #USA #Canon #Bringit #DrDADBooks #Photography #Picofthdday #Photooftheday

Snow geese fly out in the late morning sun. Also known as blue geese, and collectively as light geese, in conjunction with Ross's geese. They nest in extreme northern climates, above the tree zones and winter in warmer climates across parts of North America and Mexico. During the winter season they feed primarily on leftover grain in fields. This photo was taken at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge during this week's Festival of the Cranes. Sandhill Cranes aren't the only birds visiting the refuge this time of year!

Light geese is the collective term given to white geese of North America. They are made up of snow geese and their hybrids and Ross's geese. The best way to differentiate between snow gees and Ross's geese is by looking at their bill. Snow geese have widening along the side of the mouth known as a "grin patch." In Ross's geese the grin patch is typically absent. The geese in this photo are snow geese, the grin patch clearly present along the bill. It might be difficult to discern at a distance but it's easy to pick out up close.

Light geese are busy migrating to their winter grounds across North America. They have been extremely successful at adapting to changing environments and are considered a species of least concern. #IloveBirds #ILoveNature #ILoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #BosquedelApacheNWR #DrDADBooks #ItsSnowingGeese #Photography #Picoftheday #Photooftheday

No one seems to know just exactly how many feathers snow geese have. Rough estimates are somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000. That's a lot of feathers for one bird to care for. Snow geese, and most waterfowl, have a preening gland above their tail. So when you see a goose rubbing its head on its back, they're oiling up! Preening oils help to maintain feather pliability and water resistance. Feathers that are damaged and pulled out are replaced. Feathers that are damaged or broken, but not removed, are replaced at the time of the molt. Molting usually takes place during the summer months. During the molting process, birds will replace their feathers, including flight feathers. While flight feathers are replace, birds are essentially, well..... flightless! It is a vulnerable time for geese, and all birds. So who cares about a few ruffled feathers? With proper care and continued hard work geese will continue to take to the air! #ILoveNature #ILoveWildife #WildifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #America #USA #Canon #SnowGeese #Bringit #DrDADBooks #Photography #Picoftheday #Photooftheday

No, snow goose! But duck was something I thought I would need to do when this near sighted goose flew in too close! The photo was taken from the flight deck at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, where tens of thousands of light geese spend the winter. Light geese are a combination of snow geese and Ross's geese. Snow geese, like this one, have a slight opening at the sides of their mouth called a "grin patch." The grin patch is absent in the slightly smaller Ross's goose. Snow geese have two color morphs, a white morph, which this goose is, and a blue morph. The blue morph occurs as the result of a single dominant gene. The white morph is homozygous recessive. When choosing a mate a bird will almost always choose a bird that looks more like its parents. Somehow that doesn't surprise me, as people frequently do the same thing. Nature is funny that way! #IloveNature #ILoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in #America #USA #BosquedelApacheNWR #SnowGeese #Canon #Bringit #DrDADBooks #Photography #Picoftheday #ItsSnowingGeese #Photooftheday