Cranes and Cocoa annual event

To extend the warmth and abundance of gratitude from Thanksgiving, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Friends of Bitter Lake cordially invite the community to the annual Cranes and Cocoa event Saturday. The event will take place at the Joseph Skeen Visitor Center at 4200 E. Pine Lodge Road.

Without a doubt, this a powerful experience to witness thousands of majestic, migrating sandhill cranes with a stunning view of the refuge’s grasslands and marshes. The event begins with free cookies and cocoa at 2 p.m. followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Jim Montgomery, a crane specialist, at 3 p.m.

After the presentation, attendees will drive out to the roosting areas of the cranes.

This is an idyllic event for family and friends to celebrate the beauty of New Mexico’s wildlife. The Nature Store will be open where educational, distinctive gifts can be purchased to support the refuge.

City reporter Alison Penn can be reached at 575-622-7710, ext. 205, or at reporter04@rdrnews.com.