WILDLIFE VIEWING FESTIVALS
Colorado’s natural assets, including evergreen forests, ochre-hued valleys and the swaying prairie grasses don’t just attract vacationers, they also welcome some of the nation’s most majestic wildlife. In fact, in Colorado we enjoy these wild locals so much, we hold events and festivals in their honor.
The 27th Annual Monte Vista Crane Festival: March 12-14, 2010
Every year, sandhill cranes make their annual stop in Monte Vista, Colorado, as they migrate north for the summer. Numbering in the tens of thousands, these long-legged birds nearly blot out the sunrise as they take flight. If you want to see the majesty of migration, the 27th Annual Monte Vista Crane Festival is a sure bet.
Wildlife experts from throughout Colorado will also be present throughout the festival, offering information about the cranes and other Colorado animals. For more information on the event, visit Cranefest.com.
Greater Prairie Chicken Viewing: March - May, 2010
Once a threatened species, the greater prairie chicken makes Colorado its home in the eastern portion of the state. Viewing these birds during their ornate mating ritual is a rare and fascinating experience. During the early morning hours, these usually calm birds dance, stomp and strut across the landscape, vying for a mate.
Frontier locales for viewing prairie chickens in Colorado are located near the town of Wray, and select sites within the Comanche National Grassland. The Colorado Division of Wildlife and landowners have access to lesser-known nesting sites, and offer small groups guided tours.
For more information, contact Arena Dust Tours (719-734-5226) or Comanche National Grassland (719-523-6591).
For other wildlife viewing opportunities, visit Colorado.com/DoWildlifeViewing or the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s website Wildlife.state.co.us.
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