点评:If you are visiting Southwest Arizona in the fall or winter, this is a must for nature lovers, and anyone who craves a new adventures!
If you want to experience the exhilarating spectacle of 2000+ sandhill cranes taking flight as the sun peaks the horizon, it is truly a visceral experience. You will see, here and feel the thunder as the birds leave the playa in search of food to feast for the day in nearby farmlands.
If you are not a hard-core birder or simply do not like shivering in the cold morning air, arrive after 10 AM, walk the trails, admiring the winter waterfall, which is a reason in itself to visit, or simply sit for a few hours as clouds of sandhill cranes arrive from miles away after feasting the agricultural fields.
In addition to the showstopping sandhill cranes, we also saw 28 species of birds, including: bald eagle who caused thousands of birds to take flight, northern harrier, cinnamon teals, green wing teals, black phoebe, fly catchers, shovelers, pin- tail, and much more.
Things to know: if there has been a heavy sustained rain, the road to the draw will be muddy and at times impassible. There are picnic tables and ample bathrooms, so bring snacks and plenty of water. The insects can be numerous in the summer and fall so insect repellent is essential. The trail is well marked and flat with some uneven areas so sturdy foot wear is essential. Plenty of benches to rest.
翻译:如果您在秋季或冬季造访亚利桑那州西南部,这里绝对是自然爱好者的必游之地,也是任何渴望全新冒险的人的理想去处!
如果您想亲眼目睹两千多只沙丘鹤在日出时分腾空而起的壮观景象,那将是一次震撼人心的体验。您将亲眼目睹、亲身感受鸟儿们离开干涸的湖床,前往附近农田觅食时发出的雷鸣般的轰鸣。
如果您并非资深观鸟爱好者,或者只是不喜欢在寒冷的清晨瑟瑟发抖,那么不妨在上午十点之后抵达。您可以沿着小径漫步,欣赏冬季瀑布的美景——这本身就是此行的一大亮点;或者只是静静地坐上几个小时,欣赏成群的沙丘鹤从数英里之外的农田觅食归来。
除了令人叹为观止的沙丘鹤,我们还看到了28种鸟类,包括:惊起成千上万只鸟的白头海雕、北鹞、肉桂色鸭、绿翅鸭、黑顶莺、鹟、琵嘴鸭、针尾鸭等等。
注意事项:如果持续强降雨,通往峡谷的道路会泥泞不堪,有时甚至无法通行。那里有野餐桌和充足的洗手间,所以请带上零食和充足的饮用水。夏秋两季昆虫较多,因此务必携带驱虫剂。步道标识清晰,路面平坦,但部分路段略有不平,因此务必穿着结实的鞋子。沿途有很多长椅可供休息。