Photos: 2018 Wings over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival
The 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival features hundreds of sandhill cranes and other birds on a migratory stop at the Willcox Playa and fields around Cochise County. Mass ascents by large flocks at viewing areas around the playa are not uncommon. The 24th annual event runs through the 14th. Go to wingsoverwillcox.com for directions, maps and more information on paid guided tours.
Photos by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Kari Kidd, of Green Valley, lines up her shot of the cranes at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take roost before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves as morning clouds drape the Dragoon Mountains before sunrise at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival on Jan. 11, 2018, near McNeal, Ariz. The festival, which features droves of sandhill cranes, runs through the 14th.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes take off in droves from the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
A photography group, led by Bryan Holliday, heads out to position at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Birders watch the avian groups settle at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes arrive back from feeding at local agricultural fields at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes arrive back from feeding at local agricultural fields at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes arrive back from feeding at local agricultural fields at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Jim Daniels, of Scottsdale, aims his telephoto at the incoming avian at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area during the 2018 Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes, background, bypass a head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes head out for an evening feeding at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes roost in the waters of Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes roost in the waters of Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes arrive back in a massive horde at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes arrive back in a massive horde at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
2018 Wings over Willcox
Sandhill cranes arrive back en masse at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
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