One of the oldest species of birds still living, the Sandhill Crane undertakes an epic migration every spring and fall between their wintering grounds in Mexico and the American Southwest and breeding grounds throughout the Rocky Mountains, Canada, Alaska, and even across the sea to Siberia. With an unmistakable call that can be heard from miles away, the Rocky Mountain population of these beautiful birds converges every March in Colorado’s San Luis Valley for several weeks. Enormous groups of cranes, numbering in the tens of thousands, create one of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles in North America.

Ted Floyd is the longtime Editor of Birding, the flagship publication of the American Birding Association. He is a frequent guest on the American Birding Podcast and a sought-after speaker at bird festivals and ornithological society meetings. Ted is also the author of several hundred articles and papers on birds and nature, and he has written five bird books—with three more on the way. He eBirds daily, iNats weekly, and teaches math occasionally. Follow Ted on Instagram @tedfloydbirds.

Hannah Floyd grew up in Colorado, where she spent much of her childhood discovering and photographing the birds and other wildlife in the region. Hannah has had articles and photos published in various print and online publications, and she has given presentations and led workshops for birding festivals and ornithological society meetings nationwide. Now she is an undergraduate at Princeton University, where she is studying molecular biology and Spanish. Follow Hannah on Instagram @hannahzfloyd.

Ted & Hannah love the Medano-Zapata Ranch and can’t wait to share their deep knowledge of this magical place with you. Ted has been leading trips here annually for more than 20 years, and Hannah has been a regular visitor here her whole life –and, more recently, a tour leader.

Photo ©Swarovski Optik