Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA

© Jay Goodrich/Tandem Stills + Motio

Who's snoozing?. Sandhill cranes, New Mexico, USA

Hey, don’t judge. Migrating takes it out of you! Yes, these sandhill cranes are asleep on their feet in the waters of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in the US state of New Mexico. The birds start arriving at the end of October and as many as 10,000 will rest and feed in local fields until February. What’s on the menu? Whatever’s available, from plants and grains to insects, snails and snakes.

And they have plenty of company at this beautiful refuge each winter. Whooping cranes, ducks and snow geese from as far away as Alaska and Siberia also favour Bosque del Apache as a spot to rest before heading north to their breeding grounds, when the days get warmer. Fortunately, there’s plenty of room to spread their wings at the 57,000-acre refuge.