Willcox, Arizona: Sandhill Cranes' Migration

Visit the winter home of more than 30,000 sandhill cranes in Willcox, Arizona, just 30 miles away from Sunsites, and witness their epic dawn flight.

• The Event. Each year, the Wings Over Willcox Birding & Nature Festival (WOW) takes place during January's Martin Luther King weekend. While the cranes are the stars of the show, the festival offers tours and educational programs that also explore photography, geology, archeology, history, botany, agriculture and ranching. Visit the Web site to review the seminars and tours that interest you and your family. Reserve early.
• Just for kids. Children can explore a nature expo in the community center, which features educational booths, live animal displays, and a wide variety of vendors with nature-related crafts and activities. Free seminars on various topics are offered throughout the day.
• Be prepared. Mornings are cold with temperatures dipping well below freezing. (Think 15 degrees Fahrenheit.) Wear gloves, hats and layers. Rain is unlikely, but possible. Bring your camera.
• Where to stay. The WOW Web site lists most available , lodging options including chain motels, local B&Bs and guest ranches. Top pick:  Muleshoe Ranch. Run by the Nature Conservancy, its simple casitas in a birding sanctuary are ideal for nature-loving families.

For more information, visit www.wingsoverwillcox.com.

                                                                              - by Lynn O' Rourke Hayes