In early January, members of the SaddleBrooke Photography Club ventured down to Whitewater Draw, a wildlife conservation area in Southeastern Arizona. The Arizona Fish and Game Commission floods several large ponds that draw a variety of birds and other wildlife. As many as 20,000 sandhill cranes winter there. Although the weather was chilly and windy, those who went were rewarded with many photographic opportunities, particularly in the evening when thousands of squawking cranes flew in after a day’s foraging in local fields. Photographic opportunities were not just limited to cranes, but included many other species of birds and other wildlife.
The Preserve is located near McNeal, Ariz., about equidistant from Tombstone, Bisbee, and Douglas. Several of the group spent the night at the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas, an elegant, early 20th century hotel, and others stayed in Bisbee at equally elegant, old hotels.
Whether you’re a photographer, a nature enthusiast, or someone who just enjoys spectacles, Whitewater Draw is a “must see” during the months when the cranes are present (late October through early March).
If you think you might be interested in taking up photography, or if you’re already a photographer and enjoy interacting with other photographers, come to one of our club meetings and get acquainted, or contact us at photosb.org@gmail.com! Our calendar of meetings is posted on our website www.photosb.org.