Dead Birds and Food
Dead Birds and Food: Day 1 - Pelicans, Pursuits, and Photographic Fails
Finally! It’s happening. Our final adventure of 2024 is finally underway. “Dead Birds and Food” – the name might be a little… edgy, but it perfectly captures the blend of wildlife photography and culinary exploration we’re aiming for.
Jen set off from Arenas Valley, Ali from Las Cruces, and we met in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (T or C for short). Our first mission? Find a groovy retro motel – think 60s vibes, neon signs, the whole shebang. After a hilarious struggle, we resigned ourselves to the bland reality of the Comfort Inn and Suites, right next to a McDonald's that seemed to have an endless stream of customers. Oh, the irony.
After unloading a mountain of camera gear, hiking boots, and enough snacks to survive a zombie apocalypse, we piled into the FJ Cruiser, ready to hit the sand at Elephant Butte Lake. The landscape was stunning – vast stretches of sand meeting the shimmering water. Then we saw it: a massive white bird gliding across the lake. We initially thought it was a swan, but a closer look revealed… a pelican! In New Mexico?!
Who knew?
And so began the Great Pelican Chase of 2024.
The hunt was on! We cruised along the beach, cameras at the ready, determined to capture these unexpected New Mexican residents. While scouting for the perfect pelican-snapping spot, we stumbled upon what we thought was the dam. Ever eager to forge our own path (and maybe show off the FJ’s off-road capabilities), we decided to create our own “shortcut.” Let’s just say it involved a very steep concrete wall, a few concerning scrapes on the FJ, and a serious glute workout. Turns out, it was just an old, abandoned road. Lesson learned: sometimes the marked path is there for a reason.
Undeterred (and slightly out of breath), we resumed our pelican pursuit. Two of them teased us, swimming tantalizingly closer before veering off in another direction. Eventually, we decided to call a temporary truce with the pelicans and set up our cameras to capture the sunset. We cracked open a couple of beers, toasted to the start of our adventure, and admired the vibrant colors painting the sky.
Then Ali turned around and said, “Look how pretty the sunset is… behind us.”
As we were busy admiring the other side of the sky, a whole flock of pelicans flew directly overhead. After chasing them all afternoon, they finally presented us with the perfect photo opportunity… and we completely missed it. Cue the dramatic music.
So, Day 1 of “Dead Birds and Food” is a tale of missed opportunities, unexpected wildlife, and a healthy dose of misadventures. But hey, that’s what adventure is all about, right? Stay tuned for more pelican pursuits, culinary discoveries, and hopefully, some actual successful photos.
Day 2 - Ancestors, Moldy Sandwiches, and Hot Springs
Day two of our adventure took us on a more personal journey – a trip to Monticello, NM, to explore Jen’s ancestral roots. Our mission: find the old schoolhouse, the Silva Ranch, and any information we could dig up about a Native American jeweler who crafted a bracelet and ring Jen’s grandfather gifted her grandmother 75 years ago.
Our first stop was the old schoolhouse. Sadly, only the outer walls and steps remained, a poignant reminder of times gone by. We snapped a few photos, capturing the skeletal remains of this once-vibrant place of learning. As we were leaving, we ran into a neighbor who, while friendly, couldn’t offer much information about the area, having only lived there for 20 years. But then, a stroke of luck! A man on a tractor drove up, and as it turned out, he was married to a Silva! He kindly pointed us in the direction of the Silva Ranch, now known as the 74 Ranch, about four miles north of town.
We drove through the ranch, taking photos and soaking in the history of the place. As we were leaving, a hawk soared overhead. Jen was convinced it was a sign from her grandfather, a touching moment that added a layer of meaning to our visit.
Back in Monticello, we explored the town square, capturing more photos. Jen focused on the local church, while I was more interested in a cowboy fixing a roof – a classic slice of small-town life. Despite our efforts, we had no luck finding any information about the Native American jeweler. The mystery remains.
Lost in our exploration, we realized we were starving. We set off for Winston, a nearby town, and stumbled upon a quaint general store. Pulled pork sandwiches and chips seemed like the perfect fuel for our next adventure: the St. Cloud Mine.
As we approached the mine, a strange scene unfolded. Everything was covered in a thick layer of white powder, and ominous warning signs cautioned us not to stop or leave the road. It was undeniably creepy.
Then, the horror. After eating half my sandwich, I discovered the bottom half was covered in mold. Absolutely disgusting! I felt utterly repulsed. We immediately returned to the general store, where I received a full refund and a sincere apology. Crisis averted (sort of), but my appetite was definitely ruined.
Determined to find some actual edible food, we headed back towards T or C. We decided to end our day on a much more positive note with a relaxing soak at Riverbend Hot Springs. The warm, mineral-rich water was the perfect antidote to a day of dusty roads, historical searches, and moldy sandwiches.
Day two of “Dead Birds and Food” was a rollercoaster: from the poignant connection to Jen’s family history to the stomach-churning discovery of the moldy sandwich. But as always, we rolled with the punches, finding solace and relaxation in the soothing hot springs. It’s a reminder that even amidst the weird and unexpected, there’s always something to appreciate on the road.
Day 3 - Geese, Cranes, and a Mysterious Burial
Day three dawned at a brutal 4:15 am. Our mission: witness the mass flight of snow geese at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Armed with tripods and cameras, we arrived ready to capture the spectacle of thousands of birds taking to the sky. We found a flock of snow geese resting peacefully in the water, a perfect scene to photograph. However, as Jen was setting up her shot, a couple strolled right in front of her camera, completely oblivious (or perhaps uncaring) to the fact that they were blocking her view. Seriously? Some people…
Frustrated by the inconsiderate behavior, we decided to ditch the crowds and seek a more peaceful spot. We packed up and headed to another pond, where we found a small group of sandhill cranes and snow geese. We stopped to take a few photos, but Jen was convinced that Bernardo Wildlife Area would offer even more opportunities.
On our way to Bernardo, things got a little hairy. Ali nearly rear-ended a small car! After a few choice words directed at the offending vehicle, we realized it had stopped to watch a hawk. We also pulled over (perhaps not in the safest spot, but hey, priorities) to admire and photograph this majestic bird. It was a truly stunning sight.
We finally arrived at Bernardo, where we found even more birds. As we cruised around, we spotted… you guessed it… a dead bird. Ali, ever the collector of natural oddities, was determined to snag a few feathers. Did she succeed? We’ll leave that to your imagination. Some secrets are best kept buried (pun intended).
At last, we found a truly fantastic spot teeming with birds. We set up our cameras and tripods, confident that we had captured some amazing photographs. Satisfied with our morning’s work, we headed to Socorro, NM, in search of breakfast.
But wait! Ali was once again sidetracked by another deceased bird, whom we affectionately named Merlin. We can’t divulge the details of this particular encounter – some things are better left shrouded in mystery.
After breakfast, we decided to hike the Rio Viejo Trail, a 1.7-mile loop. And the purpose of this hike? To give Merlin a proper burial. Mission accomplished. We paid our respects to our feathered friend and then headed back to our hotel room, ready for some much-needed rest after a busy and… eventful day.
Day three of “Dead Birds and Food” was a mix of frustration (rude tourists!), excitement (hawks and hordes of birds!), near-disaster (the almost-rear-ending), and a touch of the macabre (Merlin’s mysterious demise and subsequent burial). It seems our adventure is continuing to live up to its name.
