[cobirds] Re: Latest on the Birds at Monte Vista Refuge

I thought Monte Vista Refuge was closed. Is this not true? I was thinking of driving down and then thought it was closed, so a change in plans might be in order if it's open. Would love to see the cranes.

Debbie Tyber

Breckeridge

On Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 12:12:44 PM UTC-7 mvjo...@gmail.com wrote:

Springtime is such a time of transition as temperatures warm and migrating birds are on the move. Things even change by the day and are doing so at the Monte Vista Refuge right now! Yesterday, we saw temperatures hit 51 degrees and much of the areas that were frozen, were suddenly thawed. Birds took advantage of this change in the available water and are now roosting for the night and feeding in locations somewhat different than a few days ago. Be aware that birds leave their roosting areas to feed in the barley fields and do that mornings and evenings. 

The auto tour loop is still good with pockets of cranes roosting in wetlands. You can get pretty close to some of those pockets for excellent photographic opportunities. Many of the auto tour loop birds will fly to the barley fields west of the headquarters, where today there were about 3,000 cranes. The 8S has a few cranes but not the numbers we hope for. They are also avoiding the east side turnout near the wellhead and I am not sure why. Numerous ducks can be seen....Cinnamons, GW Teal, Ring-necked, Mallards, Pintails, Redheads, Gadwalls, Bufflehead, and coots. 

A major change is that water has now reached the 2E and 7S areas, and 8-10000 cranes are feeding in that area. Add to that, thousands of Cackling and Canada geese and you have  a fabulous showcase of birds. Mallards swirled  in circles above the barley field this morning as if in a cauldron. It was quite a sight to see and the raucous calls and honks of the passing birds was powerful and magnificent. 

As luck would have it, I saw something odd in the hundreds of cackling geese and knew right away it was a Brant (of the nigricans, pacific variety). I no sooner got the camera up when the bird flew right at me, and I got a few shots in the cloudy low-light conditions as it flew past. If I had been a minute later, I would have never seen it. This is only the third record I am aware of for our Valley, with previous birds (all nigricans) seen in 1992, and the 2015 bird seen by many.  Look  for it in the 7S and 2E area. 

Cranes are well scattered across the Valley. Yesterday, hundreds were in barley fields near Fort Garland. Lisa Rawinski reports 1500 birds are along the Stanley road and east.

And there are some oddities as well. I have posted the crane images, brant and oddities on my website under "recent additions" if you'd like to check it out.  

Zenfolio | John Rawinski

So what is next? Well the tractor equipment is out in the fields and I expect them to be moving soon which will stir up grain and food for the birds. So more shifts are possible. 

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO

Enjoy them while they are here!

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