Winter Wildlife Photos: Sandhill Crane

Continuing my series on Winter Wildlife, we come to Sandhill Cranes. Winter Wildlife doesn't always mean "snow." Winter in Southern Arizona is relatively mild compared to the more northern parts of North America. 

Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona collects the largest concentration of wintering Sandhill Cranes in the United States. Yearly estimates can be as high as 42,000. Typically, they start arriving in late October, peaking in late January. They start heading north in mid-March. 

Here a photo from Whitewater Draw:

Sandhill Cranes

Whitewater Draw - Part II

Of course, no trip to Whitewater Draw -- no matter how often I go -- doesn't contain a photo or two of the Sandhill Cranes --- 30 to 40,000 of which call it their winter home.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Wildlife at Yellowstone National Park - VIII

Yellowstone National Park is an obvious choice when looking for bear, wolves, pronghorn, etc. It is less obvious, but nonetheless an excellent place for birding. However, I must admit that living in Tucson, where photographing birds gets the lion's share of my time, when I go to Yellowstone I really don't "Loook" for birds. I did take several bird photos, so I thought I'd share a couple with you today.

The first is a pair of Ravens that gave me a nice up front a personal look:

Raven

The second photo was taken in the far south of Yellowstone which is an area I don't normally search. Here two Sandhill Cranes with their two chicks:

Sandhill Cranes with Chicks

Sandhill Crane - VI

The last of the "5" Star Sandhill Crane photos comes from Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. 

The Rocky Mountain population of greater sandhill cranes is the most abundant subspecies that winters in the Bosque del Apache. They are the largest of all the sandhills, standing four feet tall with a wing span greater than six feet. The immature cranes are mostly rust colored their first year, after which they turn mostly gray with a red facial patch. All in all about 30,000 Sandhill Cranes at Bosque del Apache during the winter months.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane - V

Continuing with my "5" Star Photos in general and the Sandhill Crane in particular we move from Arizona to Wyoming. Here below a Sandhill Crane nesting in Yellowstone National Park:

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane - IV

Sandhill Crane number Four taken at Whitewater Draw in Southern Arizona:

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane - III

Sometimes when you go to Whitewater Draw (Southern Arizona) the Sandhill Cranes are too far away for a good photo. You can get some nice landscape photos with them -- after all there are 30 to 40,000 of them. But, if you go often enough, your chances of getting a really good photo -- "5' Stars are greater. Here is close up taken as a group were flying right in front of me:

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane - II

At times the Sandhill Cranes are far away, but can give you a good idea of their numbers. And, at times they can be seen up close and personal. Here's one not only close but making some noise as well:

Sandhill Crane - Waterwater Draw

Sandhill Crane

Continuing with my alphabetical series of my "5" Star Photos we come to the Sandhill Crane. Many people are lucky to live close to the wintering range of Sandhill Cranes. When I lived in the Seattle area, 10,000 or so Sandhill Cranes wintered near the small town of Othello in Southeast Washington. In New Mexico, tens of thousands winter at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Here in Southern Arizona, tens of thousands winter at Whitewater Draw near the small town of McNeal.

Being so close has provided many photo opportunities, Here is the first of the "5" Star Sandhill Crane Photos:

Sandhill Crane

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge

Next on my trip this past week was Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. This is not an easy place to get to from Arizona. Cibola is adjacent to Imperial just to the north. If you are on the Colorado River you would boat from one right into the other. However, if you are driving, it is a 2 and a half hour drive from one to the other.

Nonetheless, I made that journey (as I have in the past). While Cibola's duck pond was dry and therefore no ducks, there were about 1000 Sandhill Cranes and 50 or so Great Egrets. Got a few okay photos of the Cranes (Whitewater Draw has more and usually closer -- same with Bosque del Apache in New Mexico). But the Egrets were nice and cooperative. I also came across a light phased juvenile Ferruginous Hawk. However, the find of the day were a couple of Burrowing Owls. 

Here are some photos from Cibola:

Burrowing Owl

Ferruginous Hawk

Great Egret

Sandhill Crane

Whitewater Draw Waterbirds

Another quick yesterday trip to Waterwater Draw looking for the American Bittern. Not only success in finding the Bittern but lots of great photos. Here are some:

Northern Pintail

American Bittern

Greater Yellowlegs

Northern Shoveler

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Green Winged Teal

Whitewater Draw and 30 Thousand Sandhill Cranes

I had a chance to get over to Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona yesterday to see what the winter had brought. Typically this time of year the main attraction is Sandhill Cranes. No exception yesterday. I would guess somewhere between 30 and 40 thousand Sandhill Cranes. There were several hundred Snow Geese and a variety of Ducks and Shorebirds. I'll share those in the next couple of days. But Today, it's the Cranes. Sometimes the Cranes are further away and "close-ups" aren't possible. Yesterday, there were so many, some had to be close.

The scene as I first arrived. (This is a small segment of the area).

Getting a little closer.

The Sandhill Cranes are always squawking.

And they occasionally move from one area to another.

Lake Cochise Sandhill Cranes

On my way back from the Chiricahua Mountains I have to pass right by Lake Cochise. So, it has become a mandatory stop. There wasn't much going on on the lake; a few coots, northern shovelers, and mallards, but no shorebirds, herons or egrets. HOWEVER, between the lake the the golf course there is a dirt road that takes you to some wetlands. There to my surprise were several thousand Sandhill Cranes. Now, I am used to seeing 50 or so there but not thousands. The front page story in today's Arizona Daily Star was about Whitewater Draw where I am used to seeing thousands. Evidently, the pump at Whitewater Draw has failed and the ponds have all dried up. Hence, the 30 - 40,000 Sandhill Cranes that winter here in Southern Arizona needed to find a place with water. So Lake Cochise is there home for another couple of weeks until there fly north. Here are a few photos I just took:

National Wildlife Refuges

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, 1944

Columbia Refuge, established by Congress in 1944,  is a scenic mixture of rugged cliffs, canyons, lakes, and sagebrush grasslands. Formed by fire, ice, floods, and volcanic tempest, carved by periods of extreme violence of natural forces, the refuge lies in the middle of the Drumheller Channeled Scablands of central Washington -- locally referred to as "The Potholes."  The area reveals a rich geologic history highlighted by periods of dramatic activity, each playing a major role in shaping the land. The northern half of the refuge, south of Potholes Reservoir, is a rugged jumble of cliffs, canyons, lakes, and remnants of lava flows. This part of the Scablands, known as the Drumheller Channels, is the most spectacularly eroded area of its size in the world and was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1986.

The favorable mixture of lakes and surrounding irrigated croplands, combined with generally mild winters and protection provided by the refuge, attracts large numbers of migrating and wintering mallard ducks, Canada geese, and other waterfowl, including tundra swans.

Black Necked Stilts

Great Egret

Horned Lark

Killdeer

Lesser Scaup

Redhead Duck

Ring Necked Duck

Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

White Pelicans

White Pelicans

National Wildlife Refuges

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 1964

Cibola NWR is located in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River and surrounded by a fringe of desert ridges and washes. The refuge encompasses both the historic Colorado River channel as well as a channelized portion constructed in the late 1960's. Along with these main waterbodies, several important backwaters are home to many wildlife species that reside in this portion of the Sonoran Desert. Because of the river's life sustaining water, wildlife here survive in an environment that reaches 120 degrees in the summer and receives an average of only 2 inches of rain per year. 

Over 288 species of birds have been found on Cibola NWR, including many species of migratory songbirds, Gambel's quail, roadrunners, mourning and white-winged doves, phainopepla, greater sandhill cranes, Canada and snow geese, Vermillion flycatchers, grosbeaks and many more. The bald eagle, southwestern willow flycatcher and Yuma clapper rail are among the endangered birds that use Cibola NWR. Other listed species include the desert tortoise, razorback sucker, bonytail chub, and desert pupfish.


It is not uncommon to see desert mule deer, bobcat, and coyotes on the refuge, particularly while driving the auto tour loop in the early morning or evening. About 85% of Arizona's wintering goose population resides on Cibola NWR.


A host of species reside on the refuge year-around. Many of the aquatic birds nest in the backwaters of the river. It is a common sight to see western and Clark's grebe young riding on their parents' back in Cibola Lake during the spring. Other common sights may include a heron and egret rookery, nesting mourning and white-winged doves, barn owls, burrowing owls, kestrels, white-faced ibis and more.

Although the road to get to Cibola is not bad, the getting their is not very straightforward. You must go into California and then cross the Colorado River to get there. There is NO access from Arizona to this Arizona refuge (accept by boat). 

Sandhill Cranes Flying in front of the Palo Verde Mountains of California 

Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese in the flatlands. The Colorado River is in the background among the trees.

Snow Geese on the Arizona side of the Colorado River

A little closer view of the Sandhill Cranes

Wonderful photo of a Great Egret (click to enlarge)

Western Meadowlark, one of many birds that frequent Cibola.

Loggerhead Shrike

Coyote Yipping Away at Dawn

Mule Deer are also frequent visitors

Fall colors among the Cottonwoods