20,000 Cranes

At 7 am, some 20,000 Sandhill Cranes leave their roosting grounds at Whitewater Draw. Heading north, they are seeking cornfields and other feeding areas. They will feed for 3 or 4 hours and then return to loafing areas or their roosting grounds.

This photo tries to capture the scope and grandeur of this flight and the thrill of seing so many birds in flight.

Cranes are a very vocal bird and their loud bugling rattle can be heard more than a mile away. This adds to the spectacle!

The Greater Sandhill Crane may stand as tall as five feet and their wingspan is six or seven feet.

For several closer looks at Sandhills and other birds seen today look here at Flicker. They will be added to over the next several days as IDs are established. For starters the following have been IDd: Sandhills, Cinnamon Teal, Acorn Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, Northern Shoveler