Sandhill Cranes, travel and pics

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Tom Wilberding

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Feb 6, 2016, 11:22:52 AM2/6/16

to Colorado Birds

Hello birders,

Many of us enjoy seeing and hearing Sandhill Cranes, a species that’s been around for millions of years. To me Sandills are a sort of feathered pterodactyl, as well as an exciting herald of the changing seasons. Here are a few places Colorado birders visit to see lots of cranes:

Bosque del Apache NWR near Socorro, New Mexico, 540 miles from Denver, November to January, where Yellowstone cranes winter. Crane Festival November 17
Monte Vista NWR in southwest Colorado 225 miles from Denver, in March, where Bosque cranes rest on their way back to Yellowstone. Crane Festival March 11
The Rowe Sanctuary, near Kearney, Nebraska, 374 miles from Denver, in March. Crane Festival March 17
The Old Bridge, just northeast of Colorado in Lewellen, Nebraska, 214 miles from Denver, in March. More info: http://www.themostunlikelyplace.com/birding.html Boulder Audubon’s Alison Holloran is leading a group to the old bridge March 24, reservation needed.

I drove to the old bridge in early April, 2014, an extended loop from Boulder to Lewellen, then northwest up the Oregon Trail to Scottsbluff, then south to Boulder. First night stayed at the friendly Gander Inn Motel in Lewellen, second night in Scottsbluff. Weather started out sunny, but the next morning a spring blizzard left me alone with the cranes and Nebraska.
A brief slide show, mostly scenic: http://goo.gl/xHb27I