SOCORRO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s been over a thousand acres of farmland for a New Mexico family since the 1800s. Instead of harvesting it for alfalfa, that generational farmland north of Socorro will soon return to the wild. “We purchased it exclusively for the purpose of creating migratory bird habitat and ultimately the goal is to have it donated to the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge,” said Adam Cernea Clark with the Environmental Team at Pattern Energy. Story continues below Space: Rare comet can be seen in New Mexico sky, local experts explain News: Drafted New Mexico bill aims to change guidelines on how board grants parole News: Valencia County Sheriff’s Office releases footage of fatal deputy-involved shooting News: Some Bosque trails in Albuquerque to be closed for maintenance The renewable energy company Pattern Energy recently acquired a more than 1,000-acre San Acacia property called Indian Hill Farms. “What we're currently doing right now is working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Game and Fish, and environmental stakeholders to come up with a conversion plan to convert it from what it is today to native habitat,” said Cernea Clark. While Pattern Energy is building the Sun Zia wind energy project in Central New Mexico with a 550-mile transmission line, the company worked with an environmental consulting firm to study how Sandhill Cranes move in the Middle Rio Grande Valley and how they can keep cranes from hitting transmission lines.  Pattern Energy wants to cover the San Acacia property with native plants, alfalfa, and corn. The intent is to eventually donate it to the nearby Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. “We are working to design some areas that could be flooded in winter so that they would serve as roosting habitat, not just for Sandhill Cranes, but that other water birds or waterfowl could use them,” said Quentin Hays with GeoSystems Analysis. Gordon "Corky" Herkenhoff used to own the land and recently passed away. His family said he wanted it to be used for conservation. “His love of wildlife was his obsession up until the day he died. He had to have spent 5,000 a month on just bird feed, or deer feed. Not so that he could shoot them with a gun, but so that he could shoot them with a camera,” said Corky Herkenhoff’s son Dacodah Herkenhoff. Pattern Energy is planning to start work on the land next year. They hope the habitat changes will take root in about five years.