Sandhill Crane Sunset

Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA

Two of more than twenty thousand cranes in the NWR fly to their roosting site after a full day feeding in the flooded marshland along the Rio Grande flyway.

Conserving energy, the following bird uses the air from the lead bird's wing beat for added lift, which is why their wings are flapped opposite each other.

A must see for North American birders, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is best in December during the Sandhill Crane migration. There are also over one hundred thousand Snow Geese. All the geese take flight when the bald eagles fly over, looking for weakened prey.

The image was selected for final judging in the 2005 National Wildlife Refuge Association photo contest.