Hearing their distinctive sound in April, high in the sky are swirling Sandhill cranes. These cranes catch thermal lifts, letting them conserve energy to fly their daily hundred miles. This migratory bird stands on long legs, nearly four feet tall with a six-foot wingspan, but is smaller in stature to the Whooping crane relative, an endangered species.
Sandhill cranes winter as far south as Mexico, into Texas, flying north in Spring, traveling far with large flocks seen in eastern South Dakota attracting locals and travelers. Sandhill cranes continue to fly north to Canada, Alaska and into Siberia.
If you haven’t heard, here’s their call: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/audiopostcard-sandhillcranes.htm.
Federal publications in the State Library collection available for research.
I 49.2:M 58/8/English-Russia
U.S. – Russia Migratory Bird Convention Report of Implementation 1987-1992
I 49.15/3:221,222
Lesser and Canadian sandhill crane populations, age structure, and harvest
I 73.2:B 85
Cranes: Their Biology, Husbandry, and Conservation
Y 4.R 31/3:104-69
Migratory birds and FWS
