San Luis Valley Cranes

[mvjo...@gmail.com]

Greetings birders and Happy new Year!

Each year the SLV birders keep a sharp eye and ear out for the return of the Sandhill Cranes. The first observer usually wins the accolades of their peers! A prestigious award for sure. 

Well this year's contest is off. It seems a number of Cranes have wintered here and have been reported by a number of observers. With no snow in the fields, grains and wetlands are easily accessed and available.  But we will await the masses of cranes to start arriving first to second week of February. Get those cameras and binoculars ready. 

The SLV area added two new species last year. A Parasitic Jaeger and a Zone-tailed Hawk, bringing our total to 369 species. The Bald Eagles that nested at the Alamosa Refuge in 2023 did not nest there in 2024. 

Other birds of interest. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Crestone is unusual to rare. A Tundra Swan at the Malm trail has been attracting some views. A bittern and Wilson's snipe at Blanca Wetlands are unusual. I am still getting settled back in from a trip to eastern Panama that was in Nov-December and it was a thrill. So gearing up for the New Year and am slightly behind things still. 

I will be leading a birdwalk as usual at the MV Crane Festival. Also will be presenting "Birds and Jaguars of the Pantanal, Brazil" at the festival so come on down and join us for this annual celebration!

Question for the group. Who is compiling the seasonal report these days? Thanks. 

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO