Yampa Valley Crane Festival ~ First Crane Sighting Contest Winners!
- Community-wide
The Sandhill Cranes are home!
Throughout March, you've spotted them all over the Yampa Valley. Thank you to all who participated in the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition's First Crane Sighting of the Season Contest!
The earliest sighting reports came March 4, March 12 and March 13. But, since these came by phone (without photos) they were not eligible to win. Here are the winners of our first photo-documented crane sightings. Welcome home cranes!
And the winners (with their photos) are....
FIRST PRIZE: Yampa Valley Birding Club Category
Tresa and David Moulton ~ 3/20, six cranes spotted at 11:35 a.m. on Morgan Bottom Road in Hayden
FIRST PRIZE: Citizen Category
Mary Kay Monger ~ 3/22, three cranes spotted at 11 a.m. on the Monger Ranch, CR 44
RUNNERS-UP
Andrea Salazar ~ 3/23, cranes spotted at 12:30 p.m.at Yampa Valley Regional Airport
Patty Proffitt ~ 3/23, cranes spotted at 1 p.m. at an undisclosed location
Lynn Kelley - 3/23, Cranes spotted at Yampa Valley Regional Airport
Sue Hansen ~ 3/23, cranes spotted at Yampa Valley Regional Airport
Kevin Dietrich ~ 3/23, one crane spotted at undisclosed location
Judy Kerry - 3/25, cranes spotted at 4pm off Highway 40, west of Hayden
Dan Bonner ~ 3/25, cranes spotted at 5:50 p.m. at mile marker 103 on Highway 40, west of Hayden
Karen Schulman ~ 3/29, single crane spotted at 10:15 a.m. at the corner of CR 42 and Highway 40
Emilie Rogers ~ 4/2, sngle crane spotted at 5:45 p.m. .just off River Road in Steamboat
HONORABLE MENTIONS
These sightings were called or emailed in, without photos. We were excited to hear about them none the less!
- Sig Sundberg ~ 3/4, small flock of cranes spotted on the Seely Ranch south of Craig on the Yampa River
- John Sundberg~ 3/12, four cranes spotted on Seeley Ranch south of Craig on the Yampa River
- Jocko Camilletti ~ 3/13, two cranes spotted at his ranch east of Hayden
- Kimi Lehman ~ 3/22, flock of 20-30 cranes flying north over Stagecoach State Park
- Neil Siggson ~ 3/23, flock of 20-30 cranes flying over Highway 40 near Milner Canyon
- Jenn Wright ~ 3/25, flock of 20-30 cranes flying above Emerald Mountain
The second annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival takes place September 6-9, 2013 in Steamboat Springs and Hayden.
The Greater Sandhill Crane is an iconic species of the Yampa Valley. Returning in the spring, cranes nest and raise their young in wetland areas throughout the valley. In late summer and early fall, hundreds of cranes from the Rocky Mountain flock join the local birds to rest and feed before continuing their journey south.
The festival will include daily crane viewings,expert speakers, films, art exhibits, workshops, family activities & more. All community activities and events are free! Check back for daily schedules.
Questions about the Yampa Valley Crane Festival? Please send us an email.