By Shannon Lukens. Photos courtesy Randy Neece.

 

The Sandhill Cranes are coming back to the Yampa Valley. The first one spotted was on March 7, by Randy Neece, at the Yampa Valley Golf Course in Craig. He is the Grand Prize Winner. The Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition says spotting cranes first in Craig and West Moffat County is similar to previous years, and that the cranes have returned right on schedule.

 

The Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition awards those who spot the first cranes in West Routt, North Routt, South Routt, Steamboat Springs, Craig and West Moffat. Here are this year’s 2024 First Crane Sighting Contest Winners:

• Grand Prize Winner: 5:51 p.m. March 7, 2024. Randy Neece spotted a solitary Sandhill Crane next to the Yampa Valley Golf Course in Craig.
• West Moffat:  Noon on March 8, 2024. Justin Rehfeld reported cranes flying overhead near the Little Snake River at the Wyoming state line.
• Craig: 4:51 p.m. March 12, 2024. Gerard Geis spotted two Sandhill Cranes in the pasture outside the Craig Water Treatment Plant.
• West Routt:  7:48 a.m. March 19, 2024. Chad Ducklow reported that a 4th grader took a photo of four cranes on the way to school.
• South Routt: 10:24 a.m. March 20, 2024. Kristi Schalnus reported cranes in a field in Yampa near Finger Rock.
• Steamboat Springs: 5:03 p.m. March 21, 2024. Christie Stepan photographed Sandhill Cranes soaring over Sleeping Giant School. Her son spotted them while swinging at the playground.
• North Routt: 4:35 p.m. March 22, 2024. Alana White and Jack White spotted three Sandhill Cranes flying over CR 56.

 

 

CCCC appreciates all the submissions received during the contest. These reports help CCCC learn more about which areas cranes are using as they are returning to the Yampa Valley and helps with their mission of conserving and protecting Greater Sandhill Cranes and their habitat in Northwest Colorado.