Sandhill Cranes
Every autumn thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather around Michigan lakes, swamps, and wetlands for their annual trek south for the winter. The Stuart Lake Association was invited by Mike Boyce of the Baker Bird Sanctuary and Jeff Colon of the Michigan Audubon Society to participate in the Annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sandhill Crane migration count for the State of Michigan.
The Wildlife Service is currently working to develop a Crane management program. The Annual Crane count gives them a snapshot of the population growth and is helpful for future planning.
On October 30, 31 and November 1 members of the Stuart Lake Association count the cranes roosting for the night. Association members position themselves on Lower Brace Lake while others count on the northwest end of Stuart Lake. The majority of the cranes arrive at sunset.
The largest count of cranes occurred on October 30th, when 503 cranes were counted. This information was submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service by Steve Sayers using their official Crane count forms.
Because of the large concentration of Sandhills at Stuart Lake the Wildlife Service made a request for a crane count on an annual basis.
The Wildlife Service is currently working to develop a Crane management program. The Annual Crane count gives them a snapshot of the population growth and is helpful for future planning.
On October 30, 31 and November 1 members of the Stuart Lake Association count the cranes roosting for the night. Association members position themselves on Lower Brace Lake while others count on the northwest end of Stuart Lake. The majority of the cranes arrive at sunset.
The largest count of cranes occurred on October 30th, when 503 cranes were counted. This information was submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service by Steve Sayers using their official Crane count forms.
Because of the large concentration of Sandhills at Stuart Lake the Wildlife Service made a request for a crane count on an annual basis.
