2026 First Crane Sighting of the Season Contest

Be the first to spot a Greater Sandhill Crane in your area of the Yampa Valley!

• Document your sighting with a photo or video and enter using the button below, or email: info@coloadocranes.org between now and March 31, 2026.
• Be sure to include your name & mailing address, date, time, and location of the sighting. 

In addition to the Grand Prize (given to the person who spots and documents the very first crane seen in the Yampa Valley), the First Crane Sighting Contest awards a prize to each individual with the photo or video of the earliest sighting in the following zones:

• North Moffat
• West Moffat
• Central Moffat
• Craig
• North Craig
• West Routt
• North Routt
• Steamboat Springs
• South Steamboat
• South Routt

Note: Zones have been updated for 2026 to encourage more participation in a variety of areas across Routt and Moffat Counties. Not only is this contest a fun way for community members to participate in welcoming the cranes back to the Yampa Valley, but it also provides valuable community science data that over time, can help CCCC to identify patterns and trends in habitat use.