> On a quiet day in November you'll hear the haunting cry of sandhill cranes
echoing across the marsh and grasslands of 57,191-acre Bosque del Apache
National Wildlife Refuge. Amazing to think that in 1939, when the refuge
was established, the crane count averaged a sobering 17. That figure has
since soared to 12,000. Add to that impressive tally 70,000 snow geese,
40,000-plus ducks (at least 14 species), Canada geese, Gambel's quail,
roadrunners, and more than 300 other winged species and banner birding