Roosting Time on the Bosque

Evening on the Rio Grande's bosque, or riverside forest, is a magical time and place. This particular evening was absolutely drenched in wonder, as we arrived for our daily dog walk as the blackbirds were coming in to roost. The tops of every tree were studded with the bodies of blackbirds.

As we walked along the river banks, thousands of birds were flying in to rest for the night. I've never been apt at telling the difference between a crow and a raven, but by the numbers and the call of the birds, I would assume we were in the midst of a mega-flock of American crows.

If you are not already aware, the collective noun for a group of crows is a "murder," so technically, it wasn't a mega-flock, but a mega-murder.

While the multitude of crows was a spectacular sight, the mountains, which change color at sunset, added to the ethereal evening.