I was surprised to find about 75-100 Sandhill cranes in the south pond in back of the Visitor Center at the Preserve this morning. They weren't too concerned that I was there and let me take all the pictures I wanted as I walked closer about 10' at a time. Other birds greeted me, including Western bluebirds, Ruby-crowned kinglets, Tundra swan, a couple of Cooper's hawks playing together, Killdeer, Canada goose, White egret, pintail and mallard, etc. Pretty chilly, with small ponds frozen over and speedsters on the river all bundled up.