Over 20,000 cranes spend part of their spring and fall each year in this valley. The early spring gathering of Sandhills on the Platte River in Nebraska is among the greatest wildlife spectacles on the continent, with over a quarter of a million birds present at one time. Sandhill cranes are an iconic species of the San Luis Valley - majestic, large, and wild. Raptors will adorn the power poles and owls will be sitting with their young. The cranes stop by for 4 to 5 weeks in the wetlands of San Luis Valley in Colorado, and along the Platte River in Nebraska, the latter is known as the most famous sandhill cranes spotting place. Monte Vista plans to celebrate the annual arrival of the four-foot tall guests with the 31st Monte Vista Crane Festival this … You can enjoy thousands of Sandhill Cranes, ducks, and geese flying against a backdrop of mountain scenery. One of 250 bird species found in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, they are a delightful part of the area’s natural diversity. Found in several scattered areas of North America, Sandhill Cranes reach their peak abundance at migratory stopover points on the Great Plains. During the fall migration, DNR staff at Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area make a weekly count. Each fall, thousands of Sandhill Cranes visit the area's shallow marshes. More than 20,000 Rocky Mountain sandhill cranes make a two-month winter stop in the San Luis Valley during their migration North to Idaho and Canada. The birds feed on cornfields and roost on shallow waters, so the best time to observe the spectacle is either sunset or dawn. During the months of September and October, cranes stage in areas of eastern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota, South Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. A visit to the Monte Vista Crane Festival is an opportunity to see an amazing natural spectacle as well as experience a unique rural community. The annual Sandhill crane migration through Colorado's San Luis Valley is an incredible spectacle of natural wonder. Subscribe to sandhill and nongame news from Division of Fish & Wildlife. Receive e-mail notification when this page is updated. By Cary Aloia Dec. 31: 1,200 Even though sandhill cranes stage in the Platte River valley in large numbers during the spring migration, this is not the case in the fall. Bring your camera for the perfect shot as the birds ascend and descend from the plains at dusk and dawn. Sandhill Crane counts for 2019-20. In November 1993, the Colorado Wildlife Commission downlisted the Greater Sandhill Crane from state endangered to state threatened. Sandhill Cranes take off during the 36th Annual Monte Vista Crane Festival Saturday, March 9, 2019 in Monte Vista, Colorado. The recovery goals for the Greater Sandhill Crane included achievement of a minimum of 70 nesting pairs per year, a minimum of 0.30 fledged chicks per nesting pair and a minimum of 8.0% chicks in the fall population.