News Release
Contact: Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications, 970-887-2536, gaylene@orecommunications.com
‘Second-Hand Crane Days’ Mark Greater Sandhill Crane Migration in Western Colorado
– Sandhill crane migration announces end of winter with impressive herald of spring –
Eckert, Colo., Feb. 3, 2010 – Spring will be in air – literally – when the Greater Sandhill Cranes gather in Eckert, Colo., March 19-27, on their annual northward migration.
Eckert Crane Days, otherwise known as Second-Hand Crane Days, celebrate the first main stop for the Greater Sandhill Cranes as they begin their annual northward migration out of the San Luis Valley of Colorado. As the birds leave the Valley between early March and mid-April – with peak migration counts as high as 17,000 – they head to Hart’s Basin and Fruitgrowers Reservoir in Eckert. Most of the cranes come to the reservoir for an overnight stay to rest, feed and regroup, relying on the reservoir’s water and wetlands for protection, and adjacent agricultural lands for food.
With thousands of visitors arriving to view the cranes, the festival includes educational sessions, as well as entertainment and fine dining.
- Winemaker’s Dinner (March 19) – Gourmet dinner, featuring local produce and meats, paired with fine wines from Eckert’s Surface Creek Winery and Gallery.
- Lift-Off and Landing (March 20) – Audubon experts will offer lectures on the Greater Sandhill Cranes and other migratory birds in the Fruitgrower’s Reservoir Habitat. The cranes’ lift-off and landing is described as an “organized mayhem of flight and sound.” Their trumpeting calls, produced by a modified windpipe likened to a French horn, can be heard for miles during migration.
- Colorado Art Ranch Presentation (March 27) – Speakers from the Colorado Art Ranch will present water as it relates to the Greater Sandhill Cranes and their habitat, weaving together science and art for an entertaining experience.
The Sandhill Crane, considered a species of special concern, is a long-legged, long-necked bird with a naked red forehead and slate or brown-gray plumage. The birds measure 34 to 38 inches in length, and weigh 8 to 10 pounds. The Sandhill Crane population is estimated at 25,000 birds, with up to 17,000 in the Rocky Mountain region.
Eckert Crane Days is co-sponsored by Surface Creek Winery and Gallery, and the Black Canyon Chapter of the Audubon Society. For more information on the festival, visit www.eckertcranedays.com or contact event coordinators Jim and Jeanne Durr at 970-835-9563.
Delta County (www.westerncolorado.org)
Delta County, Colo., is located on Colorado’s western slope at the base of Grand Mesa, one of the largest flattop mountains in the world. With more than 281,000 acres dedicated to agriculture, Delta County is home to the towns of Cedaredge, Crawford, Delta, Eckert, Hotchkiss, Orchard City and Paonia.
(end)
Tags: birdwatching, colorado, cranes, Delta County, eckert crane days