Cranes Start Arriving

[mvjo...@gmail.com]

Greetings. Just a heads up that Sandhill Cranes are starting to arrive as of this past week. This is pretty much on schedule. The water at the Monte Refuge should be turned on soon, and then the birds will be concentrating there. Right now they are scattered. 

We have had some Cranes winter here, which is a tad unusual. A few Virginia Rails and Marsh Wrens around warm water seep are also interesting. A Bittern was very unusual with our mostly-frozen conditions. It too hangs around seeps. 

Our friend Susan Hochstetler, the lady who fed hundreds of Rosy-finches each day and was a delight to so many visitors, has moved away. I have yet to find a reliable replacement location for folks to see these birds. 

See ya at the Crane Festival.

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO