Dec 25, 2023 - Mar 18, 2024
The natural austerity measures imposed by the lack of monsoon rains last summer meant that forage was minimal and nomadic life did not stick around. Those that did stick around rarely stayed visible for fear of the equally starved predators in the area. All this made for a stark, quiet winter. And few pictures. No unexpected visitors, outside of welcome friends, came into the valley for winter respite.
Fortunately, rain did come this winter (effects of La Niña?) and a green carpet has begun to cover the desiccated bones of the valley, bringing a desert bloom and new forage for spring migrants.
The river is springing to life, ironically, on the wings of a multitude of turkey vultures soaring overhead as they pass through on their way to northern reaches.
Here is a quick look back at a very quiet winter.
The moderate rains this winter were not enough to recharge our mini natural reservoir on our Bosque property, but the water persisted through the winter providing refuge for a few mallards, Mexican ducks, green-winged teal, and cinnamon teal.
The lack of monsoon rains and the moderate rainfall of the winter meant that the ephemeral quarter-mile section of the river that ran last spring has not given any indication of returning.
The river began to awaken in mid-to-late February when the cottonwoods started pushing out their greenery after their short winter snooze, while the willows, mesquite, and tamarisk continue to slumber. Finches, goldfinches, and titmice, even a siskin or two, flocked to them, along with the usual woodpeckers and nuthatches, to browse for the few insects seeking their own sustenance in the new foliage. As spring stirs in the valley, great horned owl duets are heard most every evening. Abert's towhees start their chasing, and the overall chatter of the winter residents picks up substantially by the end of the month, trying to drown out the sounds of human machinations that have dominated the season.
By March, greenery and desert flowers fill the valley and new voices begin to join in with the valley chorus.