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Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park, San Antonio NM

Leak, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio NM, January 27, 2010
Leak, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio NM, January 27, 2010

The birds here at the Bosque National Wildlife Refuge live in a closely monitored and managed environment. The staff is constantly moving water around and a day or so ago they started a big pump to send water down through this meadow and into the shallow ponds where so many water birds roost and get their pictures taken. A bit is leaking out of the meadow through this old valve into the acequia (canal) in the foreground. I'm not sure where the acequia goes but I'm guessing it ends up in those same ponds. Now I'm curious - I'll have to check it out next time I walk down to the ponds.

Night camp

Site 16 - Bosque Bird Watcher's RV Park, San Antonio NM

Proficiency in Knowledge of the World

There are all degrees of proficiency in knowledge of the world. It is sufficient, to our present purpose, to indicate three. One class lives to the utility of the symbol; esteeming health and wealth a final good. Another class live above this mark to the beauty of the symbol; as the poet, and artist, and the naturalist, and man of science. A third class live above the beauty of the symbol to the beauty of the thing signified; these are the wise men. The first class have common sense; the second, taste; and the third, spiritual perception. Once in a long time, a man traverses the whole scale, and sees and enjoys the symbol solidly; then also has a clear eye for its beauty, and lastly, while he pitches his tent on this sacred volcanic isle of nature, does not offer to build houses and barns thereon, reverencing the splendor of the God which he sees bursting through each chink and cranny.

Essay VII, Prudence Ralph Waldo Emerson

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