For about a month every spring, a small reservoir in western Colorado becomes the place to be. Each day at Fruitgrowers Reservoir near Hotchkiss, one can expect to see hundreds and sometimes thousands of sandhill cranes coming in for a landing. The cranes do migrate through the San Luis Valley, so this western reservoir is just one stop along their 800-mile journey to the Yellowstone Plateau. For most of the birds, their trip starts in New Mexico, where scientists are wondering whether climate change is impacting habitat. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen visited the rural Reservoir late last month hoping to see some cranes. She has this report.
Aspen Public Radio and KRCC are both members of Rocky Mountain Community Radio.
