by Dick Walker
dickwalker2009@hotmail.com
walker photography.smugmug.com
I count cranes, specifically on six sections of grain and hay fields and ponds in the west valley. I go every day, late morning, 365 days a year unless I’m gone. Some people go to the gym, some for coffee with friends, some go to work. (More images of Dick’s photography are viewable on this companion article on our web site.)
Over a three day period, starting on October 22, 2024, after seeing a death toll of nine sandhill cranes at the viewing area off of West Valley Drive, I met with the non-game biologist at MFWP and told her of my sightings. She contacted the landowner, collected three carcasses and sent them off for toxicology exams. Two days later it was confirmed Avian Influenza (bird flu) and a sign was posted at the viewing area.
Bird flu is a world wide epidemic and is growing on a daily basis. It is commonly spread by shorebirds and migrating waterfowl through body fluids. Commercial and farm yard poultry flocks have been decimated by the disease. Over 108,000,000 chickens and turkeys have been euthanized to date. Think about store prices for chicken, chicken eggs and turkeys! It has mutated and crossed over to dairy cattle, hogs and human infections have occurred, though rare. We have no idea where this is going. I urge you to look up ‘CDC Avian Influenza’ for complete information on this virus that is in our midst.
A side note to the viewing area pond; on October 22, two days before I saw the nine dead cranes, I counted 445 cranes in the area. On October 23 there were 12 and I saw only seven more between the 23rd and November 2 and then no more. Typically, the peak numbers are about October 20-25th and end of migration is approximately November 8th. On October 24, 2022, my highest count ever was 644 cranes. Another observation was that the geese and ducks using the viewing pond for water and rest overnight, stopped using it – completely. They shifted mostly to Pond 4 or left the area.
I have a long history of watching the west valley. I have taken thousands of photos, spent countless hours just watching, I have met lots of good people; farmers, bird watchers, joggers, etc. It sickens me to imagine what might happen to this subtle, but beautiful area. I will continue to make my loop every day and my dog Sweep and I will take our daily walk. The ponds were mostly frozen today and it’s snowing tonight. There are still about 500 Canada Geese and three Snow Geese around (Nov. 20). I think they are going to Foy’s Lake at night. Almost daily I see a Prairie Falcon, two Kestrels, two Roughlegged Hawks, a Redtail Hawk, turkeys, pheasants and three coveys of Huns. Owls, Golden Eagles, coyotes and fox are a bonus. I’ve heard the elk are back in the fields but I haven’t seen them yet. The bucks are in the rut and the new snow in the trees, grasses and fences is beautiful.
Watching the migrations in the west valley, the first flocks of Pintails arrive in early March and are followed by the rest of the ducks, shorebirds, waders and then songbirds and swallows. Most just passing through. Then the breeding, brood and molt, and finally migration again. With winter comes the raptors, owls and maybe Redpolls, Horned Larks and Long Spurs. Long shots are for Snowy Owls and Gyrfalcons.Nature has a way of healing herself. I will be watching.
