Bernardo, New Mexico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernardo, New Mexico
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The Rio Grande and Interstate 25 near Bernardo, New Mexico.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Socorro |
| Elevation | 4,741 ft (1,445 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 505 |
| GNIS feature ID | 923560 |
Bernardo is a small, quiet place in Socorro County, New Mexico. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an unincorporated community, meaning it's a group of homes and businesses without a formal city council. Bernardo is located where two important roads meet: US 60 and Interstate 25.
The name Bernardo was given to this area around 1902. It was named after a friend of John Becker, who was a well-known merchant from a nearby town called Belen. Today, one of the most exciting things about Bernardo is the nearby Bernardo Wildlife Management Area. This special place is a winter home for many amazing birds, especially huge groups of sandhill cranes.
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Exploring Bernardo's Location
Bernardo sits in a wide valley called the Albuquerque Basin. It's on the west side of the Rio Grande, which is a very important river in New Mexico. Just north of Bernardo, another river called the Rio Puerco flows into the Rio Grande.
If you visit, you might see an RV park and a "Horse Motel" on the west side of Interstate 25. This area is also close to the historic Route 66. The land around Bernardo is a mix of farm fields, grassy areas, and marshlands. Sometimes, rivers here can dry up if there isn't enough rain.
To the west, you can see a mountain called Ladron Peak. East of Bernardo, there's a special area called the Bernardo State Game Refuge. If you enjoy collecting rocks, you might find cool petrified wood (wood that has turned into stone) or opalized wood near the Route 60 bridge on the east side of the Rio Grande.
Rivers and Waterways
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has a station near Bernardo that checks the water in the Rio Puerco. This river is known for carrying a lot of sediment, which is like tiny bits of dirt and rock. In fact, the Rio Puerco is one of the rivers in the world that carries the most sediment!
Sometimes, if there's a long dry spell, the Rio Puerco can almost completely disappear. The Rio Grande also has a special channel that runs past Bernardo. This channel helps manage the river's flow. In 2007, money was set aside to fix important walls called levees in this area. These levees help protect the land from floods.
Home to Amazing Birds
The New Mexico Department of Water Game and Fish manages the Bernardo Wildlife Management Area. This area is part of a bigger group of wildlife refuges called the Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex. It's a huge space, about 1,700 acres, set aside just for birds!
What Birds Can You See?
This wildlife area is a vital winter home for many different kinds of waterfowl, like ducks and geese. But it's most famous for its large flocks of sandhill cranes. Imagine seeing as many as 5,000 cranes gathered in one place! It's an incredible sight.
To help visitors see these birds, there are three special viewing decks. These decks are located along a 2.8-mile dirt road near the Rio Grande. There's also another 3-mile loop that takes you through large, open grasslands. This area is next to a deep channel of the Rio Puerco.
Keeping the Birds Safe
Farmers plant fields of corn and alfalfa in the area. This provides plenty of food for the birds. The cranes can be a bit shy because of predators like coyotes. To keep them safe, some sections of corn are pulled down. This makes it easier for the birds to eat without worrying about hidden dangers.
In the winter, some of the fields might be flooded with water. These watery areas become safe places for the cranes to rest at night. You might even spot mule deer sharing the fields with the birds sometimes!
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