Bird watching may not be for everyone but there’s a unique bird found in the Uintah Basin that is worth making an exception for. “Sandhill cranes flock to the Uintah Basin during migration and are very easy to spot in the fields,” shares DWR Northeastern Region 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.” Whether or not you’ve seen a sandhill crane there is a good chance you have heard one. “They have loud voices that can be heard up to 2.5 miles away,” says Kieffer-Selby. And the rattling call of these large migratory birds isn’t their only unique characteristic. They perform dancing and courtship rituals in choosing their mate and their extra long legs are used to kick violently in defense when attacked by predators. To catch a first hand view, attend the free sandhill crane viewing events hosted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources on Saturday, October 1st. The first auto tour is from 7 to 9am, meeting at the Jensen Nature Park at 8775 East 6000 South in Jensen to then drive to fields near the Green River. The second auto tour is from 5 to 7pm, meeting at the turnoff to the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge on Highway 40 and SR 88 located between Vernal and Roosevelt. That tour will head to the cranes’ roosting grounds at Pelican Lake and the Wildlife Refuge. For more information, call 435-781-9453.
