Masters of Migration | National Geographic

Salter Springs Valley is a closed basin

Salter Springs Valley is a closed basin surrounded by mountains an increasing

surrounded by mountains an increasing

surrounded by mountains an increasing number of cranes call it home for the

number of cranes call it home for the

number of cranes call it home for the winter the greater Sand Hills come from

winter the greater Sand Hills come from

winter the greater Sand Hills come from the northern prairie pothole States

the northern prairie pothole States

the northern prairie pothole States Idaho the Dakotas Nebraska and oz where

Idaho the Dakotas Nebraska and oz where

Idaho the Dakotas Nebraska and oz where they breed the lesser Sand Hills make an

they breed the lesser Sand Hills make an

they breed the lesser Sand Hills make an even longer migration they come from the

even longer migration they come from the

even longer migration they come from the North Slope of Alaska and Canada and

North Slope of Alaska and Canada and

North Slope of Alaska and Canada and about 20,000 of them come across the

about 20,000 of them come across the

about 20,000 of them come across the Bering Strait from Siberia Tom wood

Bering Strait from Siberia Tom wood

Bering Strait from Siberia Tom wood works for the southeastern Arizona bird

works for the southeastern Arizona bird

works for the southeastern Arizona bird observatory this is a relatively new

observatory this is a relatively new

observatory this is a relatively new phenomenon here in southeastern Arizona

phenomenon here in southeastern Arizona

phenomenon here in southeastern Arizona 50 or a hundred years ago they were very

50 or a hundred years ago they were very

50 or a hundred years ago they were very few sandhill cranes here and a couple of

few sandhill cranes here and a couple of

few sandhill cranes here and a couple of things have happened one has been the

things have happened one has been the

things have happened one has been the growth of Agriculture and agriculture is

growth of Agriculture and agriculture is

growth of Agriculture and agriculture is really a benefit to the crane in

really a benefit to the crane in

really a benefit to the crane in wintertime water drains from the nearby

wintertime water drains from the nearby

wintertime water drains from the nearby mountains and forms these playas or

mountains and forms these playas or

mountains and forms these playas or temporary Lakes which are perfect for

temporary Lakes which are perfect for

temporary Lakes which are perfect for wintering cranes the cranes like the

wintering cranes the cranes like the

wintering cranes the cranes like the shallow bodies of water that can get out

shallow bodies of water that can get out

shallow bodies of water that can get out in the water and be safe from bobcats

in the water and be safe from bobcats

in the water and be safe from bobcats and coyotes

the cranes leave this playa lake early

the cranes leave this playa lake early in the morning fly out to the cornfields

in the morning fly out to the cornfields

in the morning fly out to the cornfields and feed on the waste grain the corn

and feed on the waste grain the corn

and feed on the waste grain the corn that was missed by the mechanical

that was missed by the mechanical

that was missed by the mechanical Pickers and then come back here

Pickers and then come back here

Pickers and then come back here mid-morning and loaf the rest of the day

mid-morning and loaf the rest of the day

mid-morning and loaf the rest of the day so the farmers don’t mind the cranes in

so the farmers don’t mind the cranes in

so the farmers don’t mind the cranes in fact they like the crane because they’re

fact they like the crane because they’re

fact they like the crane because they’re cleaning up the waste corn after a tough

cleaning up the waste corn after a tough

cleaning up the waste corn after a tough morning of eating all the corn they can

morning of eating all the corn they can

morning of eating all the corn they can find the cranes return to the playa to

find the cranes return to the playa to

find the cranes return to the playa to rest and digest sandhill cranes mate for

rest and digest sandhill cranes mate for

rest and digest sandhill cranes mate for life and stay together in family units

life and stay together in family units

life and stay together in family units it’s easy to pick out families of three

it’s easy to pick out families of three

it’s easy to pick out families of three or four birds even in the air for many

or four birds even in the air for many

or four birds even in the air for many birds migration is instinctive but

birds migration is instinctive but

birds migration is instinctive but sandhill cranes have to learn to

sandhill cranes have to learn to

sandhill cranes have to learn to relocate

the young birds are taught the finer

the young birds are taught the finer points of migration by their parents

points of migration by their parents

points of migration by their parents among the lessons learned by these birds

among the lessons learned by these birds

among the lessons learned by these birds this is a good place to spend the winter