As you look overhead, perhaps you'll see a graceful egret flying past. What? Aren't egrets water birds? Yes, but just because we live in the Chihuahuan Desert doesn't mean we don't have water-loving plants and animals. Nor does it mean that these creatures must give up their water. One of the most important and forgotten features of our desert is its wetlands. After all, the mere fact that we have little rain doesn't mean there aren't areas where the water collects into rivers, ponds, and lakes. Many people don't realize that the Chihuahuan Desert's Rio Grande is a major flyway for migratory birds, and thousands pass through our area each year, needing lots of food and water. The desert wetlands are especially important to them.
Some favorite stopping places are Bosque del Apache, the Keystone
Wetland, Feather Lake, and the newly reclaimed Rio Bosque. By protecting our wetlands,
we are not only protecting a water source for ourselves, but also for many plants and
animals, both residents and temporary visitors.
Contributor: Kodi R. Jeffery, Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso.
Desert Diary is a joint production of the Centennial Museum and KTEP National Public Radio at the University of Texas at El Paso.
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The Rio Grande. Photograph by Kodi R. Jeffery.