Alamosa, Co. Part 2- Sandhill Cranes of the San Luis Valley

 Sandhill Cranes stopover in the San Luis Valley of southwestern Colorado twice each year, once in the spring on their trip north to Yellowstone N.P. and again in the fall, as they head south to Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge in central New Mexico. These amazing birds can grow to over four feet tall with a wingspan of nearly six feet.

The first thing that identifies these magnificent birds is their deep, sharp chortle filling the valley and it's something that you simply must hear to appreciate. As 20,000+ cranes fill a relatively small area of approximately 1/4 mile square, communication between flocks is essential and is usually left to the leader/navigator of the flock.

Mating, for the Sandhill Crane, is quite a spectacle, where the female Sandhill drops her head but keeps her eyes on the male as he flaps his wings and jumps repeatedly, at times as high as six feet off the ground.  Showing off like this usually works and the couple stay together for life.

After feeding for the better part of the day, the Sandhill Cranes take off for local marshes and a chance to socialize.  The Cranes will continue this pattern of feeding and socializing until mid April when, without notice, the skies over the entire valley seems to be filled with Sandhill Cranes heading north.

Tomorrow, I'm off to the Great Sand Dunes N.P.