Now if it only had a frozen yogurt bar, it would be perfect! In return for our site, we open the gate three days a week at 7:30, host the many visitors here for birding, collect fees, and close the gate at 4:00. Our site looks across a meadow and towering Cottonwoods with the Patagonia Mountains in the distance – an absolutely beautiful scene! The preserve, just under 400 acres, is a mix of meadow and riparian area, with a year-round creek that attracts migrating birds and wildlife. We’re looking forward to increasing our birding “life-list” and exploring the area during our stay.
One of our first road trips after getting settled was with our friends Don and Betty to Whitewater Draw, an area of ponds in a broad valley to the east of us where an estimated 30,000 Sandhill Cranes spend the winter. Sandhill cranes are the world’s most abundant cranes, with an estimated population of over 500,000. At an average 10 pounds and almost four feet tall, with an impressive wing span of up to seven feet, it doesn’t take many to fill up the sky. And fill the sky they did!
We arrived shortly before noon, just as the huge flocks of cranes were returning after foraging in the area’s fields.
As they got closer, the colors of their red crowns become visible and the loud trumpeting drowned out all other sound – truly magical. Listen here.
They spiraled down in patterns that are not that different from an airplanes at an airport – but in all directions at one time. As a former air traffic controller, they were making me nervous; but everyone landed without colliding – although there were a LOT of near misses!
Some returned in formation, like this flight of four – just like jet fighters:
Or this flight of two on final:
Some seemed to enjoy buzzing through the formations with abandon. As an Air Force guy I figured they must have been trained by the Navy:
But taken as a group or individual, the Sandhill Cranes in flight are amazing to watch:
Gradually, the skies cleared as the last cranes landed. This is just one of the many flocks that landed during our visit:
In another month or so, the Sandhills will begin migrating north for the summer. Once there, pairs (who mate for life) build their nest, and have their young (usually one chick). Surprisingly, these birds can live for 20 years, and the oldest on record survived over 37 years. And at the end of summer, just like us, they’ll head south again for the winter. And we’ll be looking forward to seeing them here again!
We’ve got a lot going on to share with you, so check back!
