Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area

Category: Wildlife refuge

Address: 8469 N Coffman Rd, McNeal, AZ 85617, USA

Phone: +15206423763

Opening hours

Sunday: Open 24 hours

Monday: Open 24 hours

Tuesday: Open 24 hours

Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Thursday: Open 24 hours

Friday: Open 24 hours

Saturday: Open 24 hours

Reviews

Jeff Harrits

Apr 30, 2022

A great place to stop and enjoy when birds are around. Visited on two mornings in early March 2022. Each day had about the same number of Sandhill Cranes and Ross' Geese, just in slightly different locations. Fortunately, they were in fairly close to the walking paths and we could really enjoy their antics and sounds. There were several other bird species as well.

Paul Livingston

Mar 7, 2022

Fantastic place for wildlife lovers! Great for pets & kids too! An estimated 40,000 sandhill cranes fly in & out between Oct thru March. Best times to see them is between 10am & noon. The path around the water is long and bumpy, so not good for wheelchairs. There is a road behind the lake with plenty of areas to pull over. No walking necessary, just get out of your car and look up. The name of the road is McNeal and it runs off 191. Sorry for so few photos, my phone died while I was there :(

Robyn Barker

Feb 18, 2022

Fantastic place to see where sandhill cranes overwinter. There were thousands of them, plus a sprinkling of snow geese, various ducks and some coots. Camping is permitted although there seemed to be no other amenities other than pit toilets and some covered picnic tables. Roads are not paved, and signage sparse, but who cares? The birds are there from October to March.

TC Brown

Dec 13, 2021

Love to visit Whitewater Draw area while the Sandhill Cranes are present. Interesting to see the behaviors of those that migrate here for the winter. Also interesting to see the other birds, raptors and mammals that call this area home. The AZGFD does an excellent job of managing the area. The Cranes keep coming back. So do we.

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Questions & Answers

I hear that the cranes take off to feed in the morning. Whats a goid time to see them lift off.

Laurie McGovern | Jul 1, 2018
Beth Burgess | Jul 2, 2018

They leave just before and during dawn. It's much easier to see them late morning returning. But I do both.

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What is the best time of year to go there?

jane latzka wise | Mar 2, 2021
Barb Potter | Mar 3, 2021

Between October and the end of February

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When do they arrive

Christine Peterson | Dec 2, 2020
Francisco Saavedra | Dec 3, 2020

Mid-September and leave mid-February

When do they leave the area? We will be coming this way July if 2020 and staying till December 2020. Should I buy binoculars?

Shannon Strait | Aug 4, 2020
Alex Cabral | Aug 5, 2020

The cranes are generally here from nov/dec till about March.

Are the cranes still at whitewater draw? March 1st, 2020.

shannon jones | Jun 30, 2020
Deseri Wilkerson | Jul 1, 2020

Yes

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What time do they come back. I've seen em flying that way from McNeal P. O. around 4pm

Henryhank Schafer | Jun 30, 2020
Arlene Ripley | Jul 1, 2020

It varies. Sometimes in the late morning, other times in the afternoon.

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Are Barn Owls visible here and if so are there peak months to plan travel there?

Nora Vanderploeg | Jun 30, 2020
Arlene Ripley | Jul 1, 2020

Barn Owls occasionally roost in the barn (picnic tables) but Great Horned Owls are much more common roosting in the rafters. There is a Barn Owl box attached to the building but not sure it's been used. You are more likely to see one roosting in the trees east of the barn which line the southeast pond. Watch at dusk for them to fly out. Winter months are the best time to visit and the Sandhill Cranes are spectacular.

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When was the ww draw created?

Robert Mitchell | Jun 30, 2020
Nancy Robinson | Jul 1, 2020

Call the AZ Fish and Game Dept. I looked at their website but couldn't find a date.

Are they gone by the first week of May?

Norma Grayston | Jul 1, 2019
Ronald Hinze | Jul 2, 2019

more than likely. there could be some stragglers. They could be there now or on their way. Can't remember how long they stay during their migration north.

Any guided bird watching tours?

Usha Benjamin | Jul 1, 2019
Louis Hoeniger | Jul 2, 2019

The Wings over Willcox festival offers guided Birding tours. But a guide is really not needed for the Draw.

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