You most likely saw the Sandhill Cranes. They winter in that area. We saw fields of them near Fairbanks, Alaska in the summer. So if we go to New Mexico in the winter we could then have seen them at both locales. That would be cool. According to the International Crane Foundation there were only 25 pairs nesting in Wisconsin in the 1930's and now there are over 25,000 Sandhill Cranes. The Whooping Crane, the only other North American crane is more endangered. The Foundation is working to restore them including getting hatchlings to follow a light aircraft to migrate from Wisconsin to Florida. They show a short film on how they do that and have a sheltered amphitheater that overlooks a small pond setting where I captured the photo.

I won't be pursuing Whooping Crane sandwiches anytime soon.

Whoa! You better not.