Sandhill cranes arrive by thousands near Willcox — finally

Sandhill cranes — enormous birds that have soared Earth’s skies since the Pleistocene — are finally showing up by the thousands in the Sulphur Springs Valley south of Willcox after making only spotty appearances during their usual arrival period in October and November.

Visitors seeking a look at mass flights of the migratory birds had been disappointed at “intermittent” sightings — until the past few days.

“Last night I saw thousands of cranes down by the Apache Generating Station,” Alan Baker, executive director of the Willcox Chamber of Commerce and an avid observer of the birds, said on Wednesday, Dec. 16. “It was stunning. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that many at one time.

“They’re finally back.”

One possible reason for the cranes’ late arrival: warmer-than-usual weather in their northern summer habitats.

WHITEWATER DRAW

State wildlife officials recently had noted that sandhill sightings had been intermittent at the popular Whitewater Draw crane viewing area southeast of Tombstone.

“It seems to vary from day to day,” said Mark Hart, spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “They’ll be present in the draw one day, disappear for a few days, and then come back. They’re not consistently in one place.”

That inconsistent pattern at Whitewater Draw could change if the recent arrivals near Willcox are an indication.

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“But nature having it’s own mind, we can never tell exactly what will happen,” Hart said.

WEATHER’S ROLE

Baker said the inconsistent pattern of Whitewater Draw had occurred in the Willcox area as well since sandhills began arriving in October in their annual migration from mountain states and parts of Canada.

“That was true here too until just recently,” he said. “But the numbers have increased substantially in the last week.”

He speculated that a somewhat late arrival of cold weather in mountain states might have affected the birds’ migration.

“They’re just a little late because it’s been warmer up north,” Baker said.

SEE SANDHILLS

Baker suggested sites where you might spot large numbers of cranes, especially when they take off around sunrise and return to roost in the afternoon.

• Apache Generating Station viewing area — From Tucson, drive east on Interstate 10 and take Exit 331 onto U.S. 191. Follow the highway south about 10 miles to the site.
• Cochise Stronghold Road — Watch for Dragoon Road near the generating station along U.S. 191. Follow Dragoon Road west to Cochise Stronghold Road and look for cranes in farm fields.