February 18-19, 2020

February 18-19, 2020

We haven't travelled in a while so I am getting itchy. Aimee loves to go birding so I thought checking out the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area would make for a good adventure. With a hotel reservation in hand, we drove the ninety minutes southeast to Tombstone. It is one of the few locations with accommodations in southeast Arizona. Checking in, we were surprised to find the hotel completely booked for the next few days. We only made the reservation this morning!  Heading into the town for dinner, we found it full of restaurant patrons. Who would have thought Tombstone was such an overnight tourist haven.

We were up early the next day for the thirty minute drive east to Whitewater Draw. This seasonal wetland plays host for tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes looking, like us, to escape winter. Our two previous visits were busts because of poor timing.

As we approach the site, it looks like we misjudged again. We see that the cranes have already left their overnight roosts and are blackening the sky. Apparently they leave shortly after dawn for breakfast eating grain in local farmers fields. We sit along a dirt road watching the cranes soar overhead as they move from one field to another. The incessant honking of the cranes is interrupted with loud cannon booms probably from farmers looking to discourage feeding on their crops.

After an hour we head into the Draw. We walk around the mostly empty wetland. This marsh lake is a low spot that accumulates winter rains. It has a handful of ducks and a flock of snow geese in the distance. We also spot an owl roosting in the rafters of a pole barn. Disappointingly the area site has more two-legged visitors than wildlife. The parking lot is filled with RVers who spent the night. They probably were here in time for the morning flyoff.

Near the finish of our circular walk around one shoreline section we were pleasantly surprised to run into a large flock of Yellow Headed Blackbirds. A new species for us. They seem to be feeding on the marsh reeds and noisily communicating with one another. Their heads are a vivid yellow. Even better is the occasional flyover of a Harrier Hawk that causes the flock to suddenly swarm making for interesting photo opportunities.

Tired of the blackbirds, we sit in the car and wait for a couple hours. I read that the Cranes usually return to rest before afternoon feeding. Eventually we start to see a few Cranes returning so we walk back to the lakefront. The opposite shore is closed for roosting. We see a large number now in the distance. It is disappointing that they are so far away. Against my norm, we are patient and see more flocks return. The cranes slowly get pushed to the shore nearest our viewing platform. It takes another ninety minutes but eventually returning Cranes fill up the area closest to us. Sandhill Cranes are big birds standing 3-5 feet tall on long skinny legs. Their wingspans are even larger. The Cranes are also very noisy with an almost constant trilling to each other.

In the mid-afternoon we make the long drive back to Tucson stopping only for dinner at our favorite Mexican seafood restaurant. Aimee and I both were pleased with this mini-adventure.