Nature SpotMonte Vista National Wildlife Refuge

It is a long drive to get to Monte Vista from my home. Something on the order of 250 miles one way, however the journey is well worth the effort if you really enjoy seeing one of the most amazing spectacles in the avian migration world.

Looking at the photographs I recently posted one could think what is so unique about this desolate desert. It is truly a high altitude desert getting only seven inches of precipitation a year yet the key to this whole operation is water.

The Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge is the waypoint for migrating Sandhill Cranes. The cranes winter in New Mexico and summer in Idaho where they nest. However twice a year they migrate to Monte Vista. As a result they spend more time in Colorado than either the wintering grounds or breeding grounds. In addition while here they are pretty concentrated. At times the whole flyways population of some 20,000 plus individuals is in and around the 14,000+ acres of Monte Vista.

Mind you these are not the swallows of Capistrano where 20 birds would fit in a grocery sack. These birds are up to four feet in height with a wing span in excess of six feet. After fattening up on grain from their stopover they can weigh up to 15 pounds. Now imagine if you will 50 to 100 or better 300 500 of these fellows descending from the heavens chattering and calling to one another like so many sky divers trying to hit the bull's eye in the middle of a football field. That is a bit what it was like over this trip.

In this case however the target is not a flag on a field rather it is the field itself. Many of the local farmers as well as the refuge itself leave grains spilled during harvest out on the ground for the returning cranes.

The other big attraction as hinted above is water. The water is brought up from the aquifer. In some cases on the refuge springs feed the ponds, lakes, and marshes. In others man is helping with the use of pumps. Water levels are closely monitor and maintained throughout the year to provide optimum habitat not only for the cranes but for all types of waterfowl, marsh birds, wading birds and some other unexpected users of the refuge.

The water in the aquifer is the result of snow melt in the mountains. Monte Vista is located in the San Luis Valley. It is surrounded by some of the highest peaks in Colorado and the United States. The Sangre de Cristo's form one side while the San Juan's are on the other side. Mount Blanca seems to overlook this particular section of the San Luis Valley soaring some 14,347 feet seemingly from nowhere.

October is the month of the big game hunting season in Colorado. One group of Elk has started using the refuge as a haven from hunting pressure. I was lucky enough to get video of this group. Unfortunately it was a bit beyond the range of my still camera. This heard had one magnificent bull with his harem of about 15 cows.

It was a pretty lucky day to get to see such a fine heard of elk and the huge gathering of sandhill cranes. The cranes usually arrive in the middle of February and leave toward the end of March. They return in late September to early October staying until late November. They like to feed on the grain stubble early in the morning and again late in the afternoon. They will rest in the refuge during the middle of the day or they may go out for a little soaring. This is something special to see it one gets the chance. They look something akin to an avian tornado as they stack up hundreds at a time until almost invisible. Yet you can still hear them calling to each other.

This was really a fun trip, but the best one is the spring. Then they are in the mood for romance. While on the feeding or resting grounds they call to each other and dance the dance of armoire. Really quite something to see.

Visiting the refuge is free. I marked down the recreation factor a bit as the folks at the refuge don't want you to get out of your car, rather use the car as a blind. There are informational plaques all along the 2 mile route set low so they can be read from the car. There are a couple of places were one can walk a short distance to view and photograph. It is best if your vehicle is a bit taller than the growth, mine is not so I was a bit handicapped in that regard. Still in all well worth the trip.