The Whitewater Draw wetland - a major magnet for bird lovers because it attracts thousands of sandhill cranes every winter - has all but dried up, and cranes have abandoned the area.
The reason for the dry-up: aging pumps that supply the wetland northwest of Douglas have been offline in recent weeks and must be replaced.
Wildlife officials say they're spending about $24,000 to replace two pumps at the site.
"We expect the work to be done by October" when cranes begin returning to Whitewater Draw from summer ranges in mountain states and parts of Canada, said Mark Hart, spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The department oversees the 1,500-acre wetland site, which attracted 19,000 cranes over the past fall and winter season.
"The last cranes left this week," Hart said. "In addition to the pump problems, lack of rainfall further complicated maintaining water levels there this season."
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The cranes gravitate to the area because they use Whitewater Draw's shallow waters to evade predators. Another attraction for the big birds is a food source provided by residual corn and other grains in nearby fields.
They typically depart the area by February or early March to return to their summer ranges.
The wetland also serves as habitat for ducks, geese, egrets, herons, shorebirds, gulls and terns, as well as falcons, hawks and numerous migratory bird species.
Dealing with the aging and inadequate pumps "has been an ongoing challenge for us given budget shortfalls," Hart said. "But the pumps are being replaced now. We realize it's important to the birding community of Southeastern Arizona."
Did you know?
Sandhill cranes have wingspans of 6 feet or more and produce a distinctive rattling, resonant call.
Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at dkreutz@azstarnet.com or at 573-4192.
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