The Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex contains four wildlife management areas in Valencia and Socorro Counties, namely Bernardo Waterfowl Area, La Joya Waterfowl Area, Casa Colorada Waterfowl Area and Belen Waterfowl Area. Together with the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to the south, they feed half of the waterbirds which winter in the Middle Rio Grande Basin.
The Bernardo Waterfowl Area is special as it contains a three (3) mile vehicle tour loop and three (3) elevated viewing and photography platforms. This is a great area for winter viewing of migrating birds. This area is located north of Socorro on Interstate 25, Exit 175.
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- Sandhill cranes in flight.
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- A family of sandhill cranes: the adults in red, the children in brown.
