Crane Festival in Monte Vista this weekend
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: KOAA
Thousands of Sandhill Cranes are in the San Luis Valley, resting on their northward migration. This weekend, Monte Vista will hold its annual Crane Festival to celebrate the long-necked birds crowding fields and lakes at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is one of the hosts of the festival. "They're an ancient bird," said Michael Seraphin, Colorado Division of Wildlife. "Some of the original human settlements there can be traced back to roughly 20,000 years ago and there are petroglyphs in the valley that show drawings of cranes. So, we know that they are even older than that."
In addition to Sandhill Cranes, keep an eye out for the rare Whooping Crane--they mix in with the flocks of Sandhills. The festival includes bird watching, arts and crafts, and other activities.
