Images of Nature - Instruction - Workshops
Views of Nature Photography
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
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email: viewsofnature@comcast.net
Every year about 20,000 sandhill cranes start their journey northward at the end of February. They leave their wintering grounds in New Mexico and migrate to Gray's Lake NWR in Idaho. One of their "layovers" is at Monte Vista NWR in southern Colorado.
The refuge provides for safe roosting and plenty of food in the fields. We try to make it down to Monte Vista as often as possible to see and photograph this spectacular event.
The local businesses sponsor a yearly crane festival, usually the middle weekend in March; go earlier if you want to avoid any crowding at the wildlife viewing areas.