Invaders

 Corrales continues to be a riparian habitat and the water table has recently begun to rise; either as a result of recent water releases to meet our water debt to Texas, or as a result of rains last month. It is  not easy to tell. The change in water level of even a few inches has a dramatic effect on the plants and animals Corrales will see.

Drains in Corrales perform two purposes, either to drain water away or to transport it in. Both goals are somewhat redundant in these modern times, but these legacy drainage systems have not yet gone away. A fact that the local wildlife is very grateful for.

The Rio Grande is much tamer than it used to be for past generations. Channelization and dams have reduced the extreme water surges, allowing the city of Albuquerque to grow right up to its well defined banks. Still, the river can still spread over a wide area at times, reshaping the banks and changing the plants and animals that live there. Low land river features such as rills, oxbows and sediment create a wide variety of habitat.

As soon as there is surface water, the mallard ducks return to the ditches of Corrales, enjoying the shallow still waters for feeding and pair bonding. At first they are very shy, but this will change as the season continues. The newly inundated features are very attractive to these omnivores.

Mallards are generalist feeders that can also transport different species of animals either inside or outside their bodies. This small snail is known to survive the passage through the digestive tracts of water fowl and have been slowly  spreading out of California where they were first introduced from New Zealand. New Zealand Mud snails are poorly studied but have the potential to be very disruptive to the ecosystems they are introduced into.

Many plants are adapted to changing moisture in the soil. One such plant is the goldenrod. After the Boston Tea party, settlers drank so called "liberty tea" made of goldenrod which has a slight licorice flavor. Henry Ford is said to have experimented with rubber made rom a varietal of goldenrod, but then he experimented with lots of weird things.

The Teasel thistle is dependent on waterlogged soil but not found this far south. This picture is from Taos. The son of Charles Darwin claimed the species was proto-carnivorous, but this is debated. They are well know for providing winter seeds for birds such as goldfinch.

The Osage Orange is not a native species, but was planted by settlers as a natural fence. The wood is rot resistant and the fruit very distinctive. The oil can be found online, but the claims made or it are iffy.

Mushroom can be surprisingly common in the Bosque. This is Bonestem, a fungus species that seems to prefer locations that are disturbed by human activities. This describes he Bosque very well, in spite of the natural appearance of the preserve. It is considered edible, but not remarkably so.

Bracket fungus are found on dry, dead trees, they are known as conks are usually are a sign that the tree is unsound. They do well in dry conditions. The material they are made of is related to insects and trees and is quite unique.

Life fungus, the dwarf mistletoe mostly lives hidden from sight under the bark of a coniferous host. They can be a pest in commercial operations but they don't seem to have much effect on wild populations. Because they spread by explosive seeding, they do well where the trees are dense and all of similar age.

Broadleaf mistletoe are found on poplars and other deciduous trees. Popular around Christmas they use birds and a sticky residue to spread their seeds to other trees. They grow slowly but often are seen densely on older trees just because they don't die back each year like other plants. They appear to be food or quite a wide variety of animals.

Porcupines live quite active lifestyles or such a slowly moving creature. In the winter they feed on the inner live bark of trees and can be destructive if a population is confined in one place. They usually move from feeding areas in small trees to sleeping quarters in a larger tree, but sometimes decide to sleep in late.

Russian olive trees and young elms seem to be favorites in the winter time, but they also seem to like fallen apples and mistletoe. Their droppings and marks on the bark are distinctive and while they have few enemies, they are hunted by mountain lion and horned owls.

Dead wood is a prized resource for many in the bosque. Beetles and other insects feed and shelter in the soft wood. Birds and other animals hunt for these morsels during the year and the soft wood eventually builds up nutrients for future generations.

Future generations look different for different species. Cottontail rabbits breed rapidly and seem immune to hunting pressures, disease, or starvation. Mice also do well in this human altered environment. Careful stewardship is important and not really available to the village. So far we have been lucky. Caution is needed, because the only way we will appreciate the wilderness without a guide, is once it has gone.