Billie the Buffalo
8 posts
Mar 12, 2010
5:20 AM
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Hi Everyone,
We haven't had any more calves born at the Flying Eagle Bison Ranch. They usually are born in April and May on the ranch. Val told me she is going to record video of the new bison calves and add it to this website. She wants you to be able to see our beautiful additions the whole herd is proud of.
What happens in the San Luis Valley every year in early March is the Sandhill Cranes arrive from their winter grounds in Soccorro, New Mexico. They rest and eat in the San Luis Valley until the weather warms up. Then, they fly to their summer grounds in Canada.
The author,Judith Stone, and the photgrapher, Mark Niederquell, take all my books and the other fun items they created about me to the Monte Vista Crane Festival. The festival is held every March for Three days. Wildlife refuge rangers take people on guided tours of the refuges, the only time the refuges are open to the public. The Wildlife Officers teach people about the habitat of the Sandhill Cranes as well as the hundreds of other bird species that arrive in the San Luis Valley each spring.
The people of the San Luis Valley began the annual event many years ago as a way to honor spring's arrival and the incredible birds who migrate through the San Luis Valley.
You see,Sandhill Cranes habitat was unknowingly destroyed when so many farmers began to use the valley's water for irrigation.They dried up the Sandhill Cranes habitat. When these farmers realized how their actions affected the ancient flight corridor these birds have flown since time began,farmers put the water back for these magnificant birds and restored their habitat. They also wanted to increase the birds numbers so they stopped plowing under their fields in the fall guaranteeing Sandhill Cranes plenty to eat when they fly into the San Luis Valley each spring. Then,farmers helped start three wildlife refuges we have in the San Luis Valley. In no time, the Sandhill Cranes went from a few hundred birds to thousands of birds.
The Sandhill Cranes unusual voices sound like a flutes twill.These sounds are music to my bison herd because we know spring has really arrived when the Sandhill Cranes are here even if we still have a lot of snow on the ground like we do this year!
Check out Mark Niederquell's photos of the Sandhill Cranes. If you're at the Monte vista Crane Festival, stop by and see my author and photographer. You'll get to touch the bison robe Judith and Mark always bring so you can feel how thick and soft bison fur is, touch a bison skull and feel how heavy our horns are!
Billie
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