For a few weeks now I have been tuned into what people are saying on social media and in various communications regarding the Monte Vista Cranes.
Photographers have lamented.,...'where are the cranes?'...we traveled quite a distance and did not see any. Where have all the Cranes gone. There used to be thousands at MVNWR. Now there is nothing there. In local chats with friends, I have heard the same issue. So I have been pondering this lately and have a few thoughts. They may not be right or wrong, just thoughts.
In the week leading up to Crane Festival, I thought there were good numbers at the refuge. They started strong at the 8S turnout. Then they seemed to move to 7S and 2E grainfield. Then, the snow hit, and the big flocks seemed to have vanished or dispersed. The field 7S and 2E that had 8-10000 birds now has a few hundred. So what is going on? The Brant was a one-hit wonder so far as I know.
First thing is...if you want to see cranes at the Refuge, you need to be there at 6-700 am for the flyout and feeding. Then another primetime is 3-7 pm. I think one problem is that many visit the auto tour loop at mid-day. For some reason, the birds (cranes) that used to rest here in flocks are not really roosting/staging on the auto tour loop! I cannot say why that is because they have always been there in the past. Something is amiss here. Not sure what?
The birds are still here. I live 4 miles north of the MVNWR and ask them to sign out when they leave! Ha! Just kidding, but in reality I see their swarming spiraling masses overhead when they head north. I have not seen that to date but expect it any time!
Three days ago as I birded with a friend (3-5pm), we saw few birds on the refuge and a lot flying toward La Jara. (None on the auto tour loop). I think the snow cover might have changed things and birds are flying 10 miles south to easier access grain. I think there are interior parts of the refuge that hold massive numbers, but most of these areas are closed for bird protection.
Are there less birds hanging around the MV Refuge these days? I would say yes and here is why.
I believe climate change may have something to do with this. In past years, much of the Valley is in ice lock when the Feb waters are turned on. A place like Smith Reservoir would be frozen solid and not very amenable to cranes. The MVNWR artesian water is like a magnet and birds have the security they need. In the past, I have taken folks out in the first week of March and temperatures are in single digits. This made for fantastic photographs as the steam rose among the birds and the sunrise in the background was just phenomenal. As most know, I am at the refuge twice a day, and that steamy sunrise has not happened this year at all.
This year and in recent past years, there are an estimated 5,000 cranes in the Fort Garland Area. They eat in the grainfields and roost in the wet mud of Smith Reservoir which has been thawed for some time. That means that 20% of the 25,000 cranes in this flock are elsewhere. Many others are possible elsewhere like Russell Lakes, San Luis Lake SWA, etc.
I have tried my darndest to pattern the cranes, but it has been very difficult this spring. They have not adhered to any pattern of predictability for very long. So I am somewhat baffled by it all.
Will be out of commission for a while but will get back to you when I am recovered.
John Rawinski
Monte Vista, CO
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