The Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting an exciting event in Uintah County next week that is an annual favorite. Sandhill cranes are a unique bird to catch a glimpse of and an even more interesting bird to listen to and Saturday, October 3rd, is an opportunity to see and hear these birds in action. “You’ll have no problem identifying the cranes,” shares DWR Regional Conservation Outreach Manager Tonya Kieffer-Selby. “They have a crimson crown and gray body, and at about 4 feet tall, they’re one of the largest migratory birds in the world.” The event includes two auto tours. The first runs from 7am to 9am and participants will meet at the Jensen Nature Park and will drive to fields near the Green River. The second viewing event takes place from 5pm to 7pm leaving from the Uintah County Library headed to the cranes’ roosting grounds at Pelican Lake and the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. “[Sandhill cranes] have loud voices that can be heard up to 2.5 miles away,” shares Kieffer-Selby. ”Changes in weather patterns may mean a significant increase in the number of birds that become permanent residents of the area, especially in the winter months. This, of course, is excellent for bird watchers, but it can prove to be troublesome for local farmers. We understand the frustration local farmers have with these birds.” The crop damage the cranes cause is one of the main reasons the DWR has been working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Pacific Flyway Council to offer more crane-hunting permits in the Uinta Basin. For more information on the event next Saturday, visit wildlife.utah.gov. 
