Archive for the ‘Wilcox Arizona’ Tag

Sandhill Cranes   2 comments

Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw — Image by kenne

All winter the valley
held their voices.

Now the wind opens a door
and thousands rise—
long necks, slow wings,
syllables of change.

Somewhere north
a river bends
and already expects them.

Migration is simply
love moving
toward its next body.

— kenne

Preparing To Migrate North   5 comments

Sandhill Cranes Preparing to Migrate North — image by kenne

The marsh holds them a little longer,

a shallow mirror of sky and bone-colored light.

They stand in the water

like thoughts that haven’t resolved,

tall, uncertain,

beautiful in their hesitation.

Even migration

has its hour of doubt.

— kenne

Sandhill Cranes   1 comment

Sandhill Cranes South of Wilcox, AZ, Before Starting Their Long Flight to The Artic Circle — Photoartistry by kenne

“Follow your bliss, and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.”

 
— Joseph Campbell
 

Returning To Whitewater Draw   Leave a comment

Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona — Photo-Artistry by kenne

Returning to Whitewater Draw

It’s fun to watch

the amazing spectacle

of large elegant birds

returning

from the feeding fields 

standing

in the shallow waters

giving out loud,

rattling bugle calls

echoing

sounds across the valley.

It’s always the same,

birders with binoculars and cameras,

strapped on their shoulders

and cranes standing

in the shallow waters

of Whitewater Draw.

— kenne

Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw   Leave a comment

Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw-Edit-2-blogSandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw — Photo-Artistry by kenne

Sandhill Cranes wintering in southeast Arizona and northern Sonora many have migrated from their nesting area in Siberia. 

Whitewater Draw is an Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Area is of state and regional significance as the primary wintering area for Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in Arizona and includes both the Lesser (most numerous) and Greater subspecies. Located in the southern Sulphur Springs Valley, cranes are coming from both the Rocky Mountain population and Mid-Continental population. The area also supports wintering Snow Geese (80-200) and a few Ross?s Geese (occasional to 40). Counts of Sandhill Cranes in early January have steadily climbed from 4,000 in 1991 to over 22,000 in 2008 at Whitewater Draw, with another 13,000 present 36 miles north in the Willcox Playa area, and another 600 present in the far north of Sulphur Springs Valley at Bonita, AZ, and 400 present in the Safford Valley near Duncan. The Greater subspecies breeds in the northern states of the continental U.S., and the Lesser subspecies, breeds from Alaska and eastern Siberia. (Source: Audubon.org)

Every year the town of Wilcox hosts Wings Over Wilcox — Birding and Nature Festival (January 17-20, 2019). Birds have been arriving for weeks now — the birds have their own schedule.

— kenne

Apple Annie’s — Grunge Art   2 comments

Apple Annie's (1 of 1) grage art blogApple Annie’s — Grunge Art