SANDHILL CRANE COUNT
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 the Baker Bird Sanctuary and the Michigan Audubon Society to participate in the Annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sandhill Crane migration count for the State of Michigan.
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.
Because of the large concentration of Sandhills at Stuart Lake the Wildlife Service made a request for a crane count on an annual basis.
Click on photos for larger view -- Photos by Diane Graves
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.
Because of the large concentration of Sandhills at Stuart Lake the Wildlife Service made a request for a crane count on an annual basis.
Click on photos for larger view -- Photos by Diane Graves
