Spike Millington

The Siberian Crane Story: A Tale of Ups and Downs

Saturday, September 3, 2022 - 11:30am to 12:45pm
  • Library Hall
A Yampa Valley Crane Festival talk with ICF Vice President & Asia Program Director Spike Millington

Siberian Cranes are the most endangered cranes (Critically Endangered on IUCN Red List, even though it outnumbers Whooping Crane and Red-crowned Crane), and Spike is here to bring us up to speed on their backstory and conservation efforts for this spectacular bird.

About the speaker

Spike Millington is Vice President and Director of the Asia Program at the International Crane Foundation. His five years in Madison, WI is the longest he has lived in one place over the past 40 years! Spike grew up in the UK but has lived 14 years in Africa and about the same period in Asia, most recently in China and South Korea, where he was Chief Executive of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership, saving migratory waterbirds from Australia and New Zealand all the way to Arctic Russia and Alaska. During this time and in these places, he has built up a respectable world bird list (but is still missing a few from Colorado).

About the Yampa Valley Crane Festival: Sept. 1-4, 2022

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 Yampa Valley Crane Festival celebrates these iconic birds with daily crane viewings, expert speakers, films, art exhibits, workshops, family activities and more. Bud Werner Memorial Library is festival headquarters and the venue for many of these talks, films and events. Learn more about the 11th annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival.