WILLCOX, Ariz. — There are now 35,000 Sandhill Cranes in the Sulphur Springs Valley area in Willcox, Arizona.
According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the cranes typically arrive mid-September to early October and begin to leave in mid-February.
After conducting its annual crane count, AZGFD reports that 25,1684 cranes are at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in McNeal, Crane lake has 4,872, the Willcox Playa area has 3,669, San Simon Valley has 1,589, Safford Valley/Duncan has 479 and Bonita has 125.
"The cranes usually fly out as a group at dawn to feed, gleaning grain from farmer’s fields. Most of the cranes follow this feeding pattern, but some linger in or near their roosts," AZGFD said in a press release.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department manages more than 800 native wildlife species, the most of any inland state.
WATCH: Live Sandhill Crane Cam
For more information, visit azgfd.com.
