Sandhill Cranes 2 by PatGoltz

Photography • Animals • posted on Nov 03, 2011

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Description

Grus canadensis. Southeastern Arizona, USA, is famous for its breeding populations of Sandhill Cranes. The official count of birds for last year was just under 30,000. I found these at Apache Station Wildlife Area, near Willcox. I got there about 3:30, and I could hear them calling to each other, almost like the guidance system at airports flashes lights for incoming planes. Large flocks of birds, numbering between 20 and 100, were flying in. I think one flock had close to 200. They came in, wave after wave, from the north, and would circle and land facing north. The birds on the ground were all watching them. By the time I left close to sunset, I think there were between 1000 and 3000 birds right in that small area. It was an awesome experience, especially for a desert dweller. Here you see some birds coming in for a landing, joining others already on the ground.