Birding

Birding is a favorite pastime of many in the San Luis Valley. Wetlands and wildlife refuges offer wonderful viewing opportunities.

In spring, sandhill cranes,
waterfowl, and other migrating birds stop at Monte Vista NWR to refuel on their journey to northern breeding grounds. The Valley celebrates with an annual Sandhill Crane Festival. As they migrate to southern wintering grounds in the fall, the cranes stop again at the Refuge to refuel. Best birding opportunities are during March-May in spring and during September-November in the fall. Find out more about cranes from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

See what you can find. Get the list of sighted birds at the SLV refuges or view SLV birding information at the Colorado Field Ornithologists' site.