FESTIVAL EXHIBITORS 23rd ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE CRANES 2010 Nov 16-21, 2010 Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Festival Art ©2010 Sandy Seth

Exhibitors
2010 Festival of the Cranes

Stop by the booths at the Bosque from noon to 4pm Friday, 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 2 pm Sunday. There will be exhibits and demonstrations ranging from alternative energy, to blacksmithing, to rescued wildlife (from birds to wolves), to optics vendors, local honey vendors and local non-profits. Here is a partial list of exhibitors:

Audubon Council of America
Audubon focuses on protection of birds, other species and their habitats. Volunteers are here to help you identify and appreciate birds at the Festival.

Blue Goose Alliance
The Blue Goose Alliance, a national non-profit conservation organization, was formed to promote the establishment of the National Wildlife Refuge System as a separate agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. Only through agency status will the Refuge System reach its full potential.

Friends of Heron and El Vado Lakes State Parks
http://www.friendsofheronandelvadolakes.com/ The mission of the Friends of Heron Lake and El Vado Lake State Parks is to help the staff of Heron Lake and El Vado Lake State Parks and the New Mexico State Parks Division create and maintain educational and recreational opportunities for the communities we serve. Plan now to visit OspreyFest, an educational experience for birders and the general public, sponsored by the Friends of Heron and El Vado Lake State Parks. Live raptor exhibits, bird walks, spectacular nest viewing, and a premium Lake safari are featured. Leave message at 800-605-2411.

Friends of Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area
We are a registered non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting the Belen Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area (WWCA) in the conservation of wildlife and habitats through environmental education, research and restoration. WWCA is managed by the Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District. We promote volunteer activities such as nature walks and educational programs.

Hawks Aloft
Meet the educational raptors, staff and volunteers of Hawks Aloft and learn about their research and education programs and volunteer opportunities in New Mexico. Each day 6-10 different hawks, falcons or owls will be present on a rotating basis. Hawks Aloft works to conserve wild birds through research and education in New Mexico and surrounding states. We are active in the conservation community and partner on many collaborative restoration and conservation efforts.

New Mexico Game and Fish—Project WILD
Kids Corner
We have various hands-on activities related to wildlife of New Mexico. Examples include owl pellet dissection, track casting, fish prints and “Fashion-a-Fish” from Project Wild.

New Mexico Herpetological Society
The New Mexico Herpetological Society invites all Festival attendees to visit our exhibit in the Lannan room at the Visitor Center and view the live snakes, lizards, frogs, toads and salamanders on display! Most of these interesting animals are from New Mexico and include the State Amphibian (the New Mexico Spadefoot) and the State Reptile (New Mexico Whiptail). If you’ve never before touched or held a live snake, this is your best chance to get up close and personal with one of our spectacular large bullsnakes, an albino corn snake, or one of our beautiful milk snakes. All of our critters are non-venomous, and quite friendly towards Festival-goers. Learn how to tell venomous snakes (and the single venomous lizard in the USA) from harmless ones, or how to determine if your pet snake, lizard or turtle is a male or female. The experts from NMHS can help you identify that strange-looking lizard you saw last summer in your garden, or the large pink snake that zipped across the road in front of your car. Free tips on caring for your pet herp can be yours by just asking the members of the New Mexico Herpetological Society at the Festival of the Cranes. Come see us in the Visitor Center!
Ted Brown: brownlizard2279@msn.com

New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies
http://nmarchaeology.org/
People have been witnessing the primordial migration of birds at the Bosque del Apache area for thousands of years. Visitors to the Festival of the Cranes are just the latest wave of people experiencing this concentrated wealth of bird resources. Bosque del Apache is surrounded by a rich cultural heritage ranging from campsites of the first Paleo- Indian families to the detonation site of the first atomic bomb. Our goal as archaeologists is to share with visitors the story of the 12,000-year cultural legacy. See what birds look like under the feathers, and how Native Americans made yucca cordage, and stayed warm with turkey-feather blankets. Finally, find out exactly what an atl-atl actually is and how it was used by prehistoric hunters. Learn about a wide range of prehistoric and historic artifact types at our hands-on exhibit. Charles Hannaford: chuck.hannaford@
state.nm.us

National Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary
http://www.rowesanctuary.org
It happens only in central Nebraska. What is it? It is the largest gathering of cranes in the world! Every spring over 500,000 cranes gather along the Platte River and Rowe Sanctuary is in the heart of the spectacle. Rowe offers interpretive displays and guided trips to view the cranes. Learn about this magnificent gathering and come shop our great selection of “crane goods.”

Santa Fe Raptor Center
http://thesantaferaptorcenter.org
The Santa Fe Raptor Center assists in the rehabilitation, release, and preservation of New Mexico’s native wild birds. The Center’s special focus is on the treatment of injured and orphaned birds of prey. We also present programs involving our non-releasable raptors for local schools and other interested groups. Our purpose is to promote appreciation, understanding and respect for New Mexico wildlife.

Socorro Heritage and Visitor Center
http://www.socorronm.gov/
The City of Socorro Tourism Department, located in the Socorro Heritage and Visitor Center west of the Plaza, will be on hand with information about things to see and do in town, places to eat, sleep and shop, as well as information about Socorro’s history, economy and culture.

Wildlife Rescue, Inc., of New Mexico
http://www.wrinm.org
Our organization rehabilitates and releases injured and orphaned wild animals that are found by the public. In doing this, we aid the displaced wildlife and concerned people who find them, disseminate scientifically correct information about the wildlife of New Mexico, and educate New Mexicans about the necessity of the preservation of natural habitat for wildlife. There will be a live bird exhibit as well as informational handouts. Sales of our fetish jewelry and photographs support our work. Stop by our booth to learn about our raffle opportunity. Marilyn Morain: mmorain@ comcast.net

Wildlife West Nature Park
http://www.wildlifewest.org
Wildlife West Nature Park is an enhanced Zoo and Wildlife Refuge located 20 minutes east of Albuquerque in Edgewood. Open daily, it is home to 25 species of non-releasable, native New Mexican wildlife, including black bear, elk, Mexican grey wolf, golden eagle, cougar, peregrine falcon, bobcat and much more! Please visit our booth to see some of our wildlife and support our sanctuary.

Zoo-to You Rio Grande Zoo
For over 20 years, the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, NM has offered educational programs about wildlife conservation. Join us at our booth to meet a few of our animal ambassadors like birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. This is also your chance for a hands-on experience with some of our Biofacts-animal pelts, bones, feathers, eggs, etc. Our volunteer teachers, called docents, will be available to share more information about how to request a free ZOO TO YOU presentation specially tailored for a specific interest or age group.