Sandhill cranes brings return of annual festival to Monte Vista
Thousands of sandhill cranes are migrating from wintering areas north to summer breeding grounds. Along the way, they stop in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. This weekend is the 39th Monte Vista Crane Festival.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife
MONTE VISTA — Thousands of sandhill cranes are making their annual spring migration and stopping over in southern Colorado in a spectacle not to be missed.
Along with this year's return of sandhill cranes in the San Luis Valley comes the 39th Monte Vista Crane Festival to be held March 11-13.
“This is one of the great wildlife migrations in the country that people can actually get out and see,” said CPW's Southwest Region Education and Volunteer Coordinator Catherine Brons. “The Monte Vista Crane Festival is an exciting event that CPW and our wonderful volunteers take pride in being a part of.”
This year’s festival will follow a hybrid format with virtual and in-person events. Those interested in attending official event viewing sites to see the sandhill cranes and other bird species can reserve tickets at https://mvcranefest.org. CPW staff and volunteers will support outdoor scope sites and be on hand to help answer questions.
Cranes are migratory birds, and the Rocky Mountain population of sandhill cranes is estimated at roughly 20,000. The population spends its winter in nesting grounds south in New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico and will migrate north in the spring to summer breeding grounds in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Cranes are among the oldest living species on the planet, with fossil records dating back 9 million years. The birds that migrate through Colorado are the largest of the North American sandhill crane subspecies standing 4-feet tall with a wing-span of up to 7 feet and weighing in at 11 pounds. Besides their imposing size, the birds issue a continuous and distinctive call.
The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge sees thousands of sandhill cranes each day during this time of year. The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge will be open one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunrise for crane viewing. Cranes may also be viewed at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge southeast of Alamosa as well as at CPW’s Rio Grande, Higel and Russell Lakes State Wildlife Areas.
Birdwatchers should be cautious when parking, getting out of vehicles and walking along roads. View birds from a distance with binoculars and spotting scopes, and observe trail signs and closure notices.
Cranes are most active at dusk and dawn when they move from nighttime roosting areas to fields where they feed. People attending the crane festival’s viewing sites may also see eagles, owls, turkeys and a variety of other raptors and waterfowl.
Those who attend the Monte Vista Crane Festival are encouraged to dress warm with winter’s frigid air still in the forecast.
This year’s speaking events will be conducted via recorded presentations available on demand and free to the public March 11-20 at the festival’s website.
