The spring migration of the Sandhill Cranes to the San Luis valley is a notable phenomenon. These birds are one of the oldest living species still in existence dating back 50 million, yes million years. Their habitat spans many continents, but the numbers that migrate the Colorado / Wyoming corridor are among the largest.
One of their many notable features are the vocalizations heard in this video.
The local Sandhill Crane Festival is this coming weekend, but we rose early a couple of days ago to get a ringside view. The main area for viewing is in Monte Vista, Colorado. The cranes nest in the wetlands at night and then disperse to the farm fields to feed during the day.
Their wingspan is enormous and they carry mythological significance across the globe. As with bird symbology in general, they can be seen as messengers and also carriers of the souls of the dead.
Here are two petroglyphs of Sandhill Cranes, one found in Utah and the other in Colorado. (all images except the videos are taken from Google images and are not my own. )
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The image above has a six foot wing span.
And last, but not least, is a close up image painted by Audubon.
