Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area

Many people visit Whitewater Draw each winter to experience the memorable sights and sounds of more than 20,000 sandhill cranes. These birds spend the night standing in Whitewater Draw’s shallow waters to evade predators, and then fly out each morning to feed and socialize in the surrounding area. They return to Whitewater Draw in the afternoon and evening. – Arizona Fish & Game

Although I am not a ‘birder’, when I was told about the free camping (up to 3 nights in a seven day period) I figured I would check it out. The ‘camping’ consists of four picnic tables surrounding a central pit toilet. Imagine a circle of wagons, and you just about have it.

A short walk along a well marked path brought me out to North viewing platform where I snapped my obligatory photos (in no-so-great lighting) before retiring to the van for an early bed time. I woke at 5:30am to get some photos of the cranes taking to the air at sunrise. Unfortunately, most left well before sunrise (the sound was amazing) but I still got some cool shots…