Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge This is a spring/fall stopover refuge for the Sandhill cranes. It is breathtaking scenery beneath the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Established by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission in 1953, this wetland habitat provides a safe place for wildlife, especially migratory birds. American Indian petroglyphs in the area depict the sandhill crane\'s migration, a nod to the fact that the big birds have been using this valley as a spring break spot for more than 2,000 years. A watercolor painting on 300lb paper ready to be matted and framed a 16 by 20 frame.