Cranes Abundant at Monte Vista

[John Rawinski]

A FEW Rio Grande County, Colorado Updates

At Home lake ….Still good numbers of Cackling and Canada Geese. There was partial ice on the lake today with some open water. Ducks were plentiful with Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Redhead, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and Common Merganser in easy-to-find numbers.

At Monte Vista Refuge….Water is on and Cranes are arriving. Estimated 5,000 cranes, 2000 Cackling Geese, and Canada Geese. Most are loafing west of Co Hwy 15, but they fly out mornings and evenings to feed. First light or 3:00 pm are good times. Expect more bird to arrive this week on warmer southerly winds. A good time to get out and see them with milder conditions. They are arriving on a regular schedule, about right for the season.

Prescribed fire was implemented on the Refuge. It looked like a successful burn to me. There are still unburned areas for the cranes.

Eleven Ross’s Geese are present in the south pond on the Auto Tour Loop. These birds are smaller versions of the Snow Geese. Lately a Snow Goose or two are present for a great size comparison.

Believe it or not, I have already received a report of Sage Thrasher in the Valley. Early but big arrival of them starts in March.

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO

[Caoimhín Perkins]

I want to second that first light is a great time to see the cranes at Monte Vista NWR. We pulled up at 6am, complete overcast and fog, astronomical twilight — *before* first light. My partner and I stopped at the very first pond you encounter in the loop and saw the faintest shadows of cranes starting to move in the near-perfect dark. Very magical and mysterious moment, like the cranes were slowly popping into the faintest of existences. We kept driving and around civil twilight, the huge amount of noise at the larger pond they gather at was incredible, as were the huge flocks as they took off, piecewise, over the next hour. 

Afternoon is cool, but seeing them wake up in the dark is something else. Not sure if this is the right time of year, but there were greater yellowlegs in the pond right before the big one when we went.

[John Rawinski]

Glad you experienced those moments. As far as Greater Yellowlegs, they are one of the first shorebirds we see in spring. Had them at Smith a few weeks ago. Nice finds!

[Karen Clark]

Hi John,

I appreciate your updates on the cranes. In about 2 weeks, a few of us from the Broomfield Bird Club are going to make a trip down there. As I recall, there are some county roads with ample parking where I was able to view the cranes during the day last year. Would this be a good place to see them at dawn, or is the refuge a better spot for sunrise viewing?

Karen Clark

Broomfield 

Sent from my iPad

On Feb 26, 2026, at 6:34 AM, John Rawinski <johnra...@gmail.com> wrote:

Glad you experienced those moments. As far as Greater Yellowlegs, they are one of the first shorebirds we see in spring. Had them at Smith a few weeks ago. Nice finds!

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 8:11:59 PM UTC-7 Caoimhín Perkins wrote:

I want to second that first light is a great time to see the cranes at Monte Vista NWR. We pulled up at 6am, complete overcast and fog, astronomical twilight — *before* first light. My partner and I stopped at the very first pond you encounter in the loop and saw the faintest shadows of cranes starting to move in the near-perfect dark. Very magical and mysterious moment, like the cranes were slowly popping into the faintest of existences. We kept driving and around civil twilight, the huge amount of noise at the larger pond they gather at was incredible, as were the huge flocks as they took off, piecewise, over the next hour. 

Afternoon is cool, but seeing them wake up in the dark is something else. Not sure if this is the right time of year, but there were greater yellowlegs in the pond right before the big one when we went.

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[David Suddjian]

Have a look at the resources on the Monte Vista Crane Festival webpage. They have maps of viewing spots.

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

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