Arizona and New Mexico host some amazing migration sites of sandhill cranes, snow geese, and ducks. Every fall tens of thousands of sandhill cranes and snow geese migrate to southern Arizona and to New Mexico to “winter.” My favorite spots are White Water Draw and Cochise Lake in southern Arizona and  Bosque del Apache and Bernardo in Socorro, New Mexico.  Information on each of these areas.

Generally, the cranes arrive in November and stay until late February/early March.  In Ariozna, White Water Draw and Cochise Lake are traditional stopovers for the winter.  The best time to xxx

Wintering areas selected by sandhills feature shallow water roosting areas with low or no vegetation; playa lakes and sandbars along shallow/braided rivers are preferred. Cranes winter in close proximity to harvested grain fields, corn is preferred. In mid to late February cranes begin their return migration to nesting areas.

Cranes leave roosting areas in early morning, usually about sunrise, to fly to feeding areas, where they spend three to four hours. During midday the cranes return to the roost, or go to nearby loafing areas, which can be grasslands or wetlands. In the late afternoon cranes sometimes make short visits to feeding areas before returning to the roosts.

WWD:  https://www.azgfd.com/location/whitewater-draw-wildlife-area/

Cochise Lake:  https://aziba.org/?page_id=712

Bosque: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache

Bernardo:  https://socorronm.org/location-activity/ladd-s-gordon-waterfowl-complex-bernardo-waterfowl-area/