Friends of Bosque del Apache

06/19/2026

If you've been wanting to start memorizing your birds, the Sibley Backyard Bird Flashcards will help you do just that! They come with a bird list and regions, where the birds included are most common.

Start memorizing here: https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/product/sibley-flashcards-backyard-birding/

06/18/2026

Great Blue Heron plushies have landed in the Nature Store!

Add them to your nest here: https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/product/plush-gbh/

06/15/2026

One of the many cool lizards darting around Bosque del Apache...

The greater earless lizard is one of the refuge’s most energetic desert dwellers. Known for its bold patterns, long tail, and (as the name suggests) lack of external ear openings, this agile reptile thrives in open desert flats and sandy, sun‑soaked habitats.

This time of year, visitors may spot them darting between shrubs or doing quick “push‑ups” on warm rocks as they regulate their body temperature. Their speed and camouflage make them easy to miss, but always fun to watch when you catch a glimpse.

Photo: Greater earless lizard basking in the sun by Joel Gilb/USFWS.

06/15/2026

When you become a Member, you can choose between monthly, annual, or one time donations.

Become a member here: https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/gt22/

06/13/2026

Pick up one of our super soft "Water for the Wild" t-shirts + sticker combo to help us rebuild the lifelines that sustain BdA's critical wetlands. When you purchase "Water for the Wild" merchandise, all proceeds go straight towards the campaign. Show your support for this special place by helping to ensure its future survival! Every t-shirt purchase includes a matching sticker.

06/11/2026

Want to learn more about New Mexico's amazing bumble bees and how we can help them?

Join us for a virtual presentation on Tuesday, June 16 from 6-7pm MDT.

🔗https://secure.friendsofbosquedelapache.org/a/new-mexicos-amazing-bumble-bees-and-how-we-can-help-them

Amy Dolan, from The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation will introduce the important New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas Project, launching this summer. Bumble bees are charismatic, easily recognizable pollinators, thanks to their large size, loud buzz and fuzzy bodies. They play an incredibly important role in sustaining the health of our environment by pollinating flowers in natural and urban areas and by contributing to successful harvests on farms.

New Mexico is home to at least twenty-two different bumble bee species. Unfortunately, like many other insects and pollinators, several bumble bee species have been experiencing population declines in past decades. But the good news is that there are actions we can take right now to help them!

Come learn about the unique life cycle and adaptations of these amazing creatures. Hear more about conservation issues and what can be done to help, including how the New Mexico Bumble Bee Atlas is using citizen scientists to help conserve bumble bees, one photograph at a time.

06/10/2026

If you love coloring, you'll really love the geometric play in our exclusive Birds of Bosque del Apache Coloring Book!

Get to coloring here: https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/product/bosque-del-apache-coloring-book/

06/10/2026

The beautiful Western Tanager is one of the many colorful birds at Bosque del Apache in the Spring and into summer.

The western tanager is one of the most eye‑catching songbirds of late spring, with its bright yellow body, black wings, and striking orange‑red head. This time of year, they may be found moving through the refuge’s woodlands and riparian areas, quietly foraging for insects and berries.

Photo: Western tanager by Bob Tipton.

06/09/2026

Summer Hours at Bosque del Apache Visitor Center and Nature Store! The refuge continues to be open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset...

It's summer! Visitor Center and Nature Store Hours have changed.

For June, July, and August:
Visitor Center & Nature Store: open Thursday-Monday, 9am-4pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
Refuge lands: open every day from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset

Dragonfly photo credit: T. Jay Caskie