• Thursday-What'sUP September 25 - 08:06 pm

It's that time of year for the Sandhill Cranes, they start gathering together in large numbers to begin their migration to warmer climates for the winter. Judy Byykkonen spotted this big group just outside of Lake Linden.

From here these large, prehistoric like cranes will most likely fly to Southern Michigan, near Jackson, where the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Audubon Sanctuary is located. They gather there as a sort of staging area and then in big flocks, head further south to Florida in November. They wait until the sun causes warming thermals to rise and when there is a tail wind to take off, because then they're able to reduce the energy needed for their migration. This way, they can utilize the tail winds, fly in formation and soar. It's said they can fly at speeds up to 50 miles per hour and 500 miles a day, often reaching an altitude of over a mile.

These large birds (4 feet tall) hold the record for the oldest living bird species, so when you hear their call and think it sounds prehistoric, it is. A fossil wing bone was found in the Nebraskan deposit dating back 9 million years.

They will begin to return to Michigan in late March and early April where they'll make their nests and breed again, filling the area with their distinctive call. If you've ever heard it, there's no mistaking it for any other bird call. Check it out here: Sandhill Crane call

Fascinating birds and at 4 ft. tall, they are almost as tall as me at 4' 11".

In that case, Janie, you don't want to make one mad. ;> They are majestic-looking birds.
Thank you, Judy, for the look-see.

Nice crane catch...if they were pink, I'd say I was in FL.

When Nat and I were in Michigan this summer, I don't believe we have ever seen so many Sandhills in the fields as this year. I surely don't remember that many in years past. As crazy as it sounds, these birds are actually hunted in some parts of the country......

...can you imagine a drumstick?

Great pictures of the cranes gathered at the depot waiting for the crane train. They are a great looking bird but no friend of the farmer.
Sandhill cranes and turkey buzzards are two birds that are relative newcomers on the list of birds I have seen in my local area.

Wonderful images, Judy, thank you. And a very informative narrative, Mary, thank you!

I love the sound of their call, especially when you hear them announcing springtime. And yes, it sounds very prehistoric, but there's also a very modern character to it. These are awesome birds!

Just South of Gainesville Florida, where we winter, is Paine's Prairie State Preserve, where several thousand Sandhill cranes also spend the winter.

In late February and early March they circle over the city in large flocks, honking to beat the band, riding the thermals off the buildings and paved surfaces.

When they get high enough they head North, and I email all my U.P. friends that spring is on the way.

We see and here these at a friends West Michigan farm when we camp out. Very Jurassic sounding at 6:00 in the morning. My wife could not remember what they were so she calls them Dirt Birds.

Way cool!

Thanks Judy for the photos and for your interesting facts, Mary!

Thanks 4 sharing.

A sedge¹ or herd² of cranes!
(¹ U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center)
(² Oxford Dictionaries)

See also (click →) Wikipedia: "List of English terms of venery, by animal".

Thanks for sharing these pictures with us, Judy.
And Mary, that was such interesting information.
I didn't know any of that. Thanks for the facts!

They've made it as far as Trenary already. We saw a huge
gathering there this afternoon. It was beautiful.