Sandhill Cranes at Edeal Dairy in Los Lunas, New Mexico Part 2

Fall Migration Of Sandhill Cranes

     Every autumn tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes choose New Mexico as their winter home. They follow the Rio Grande River south through the state and are commonly seen in Corrales, Albuquerque, Los Lunas and especially at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge located just south of Socorro.  

Sandhill Cranes in Los Lunas, New Mexico

     The village of Los Lunas is split down the middle by the Rio Grande River. We have a lovely Bosque open space park with hiking trails and, of course, many species of animal depend on the forest habitat near the river for their survival. 
     The Edeal Dairy in Los Lunas sits very close to the Bosque and, in addition to the cows, has many fields used for agricultural purposes. The fields and the cows provide lots of food for Sandhill Cranes and thousands of them gather at the dairy during the day and fly back to the river at night.

Fun Facts About Sandhill Cranes

     #1. Sandhill Cranes are a calm and dignified sort of bird. Unlike geese than will panic at the slightest movement causing hundreds of them to take flight all at once, Sandhill Cranes prefer to maintain their dignity by casually walking in the other direction from any photographer that may be trying to sneak up on them.
     #2. According to National Geographic, Sandhill Cranes have remained relatively unchanged for around ten million years. A fossil from the Miocene Epoch was found to be structurally the same as the modern Sandhill Crane.
     #3. More than 500,000 Sandhill Cranes amass at the North Platte River in Nebraska every spring.
     #4. Cranes are the tallest flying birds and Sandhill Cranes can stand between 5 and 6 feet tall.
     #5. Most cranes lay just two eggs and usually only once chick will survive.
     #6. Sandhill Cranes are the most common species of crane and they can live up to 20 years in the wild.