Sandhill cranes have returned to Arizona for the winter. Here's how to watch them
Arizona officials say sandhill cranes by the thousands have started arriving at their winter grounds near Willcox.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department also says a camera set up in the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area will feed a livestream for the next few months.
“The sandhill cranes have once again sprung Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area back to life,” said Jeff Meyers, the department’s wildlife viewing program manager, said in a press release last week. “It’s truly a pleasure to offer this unfiltered view of our state’s wildlife directly to the public, giving them a chance to see the migration of this incredible species in action.”
Officials say 30 minutes before and after sunrise are the best times to watch the sandhill cranes.
According to the Game and Fish Department, the cranes will start to leave the area between late February and mid-March for their northern nesting grounds. Some birds nest as far away as Serbia, officials said.
