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1) You can spot sandhill cranes almost anywhere from Mexico to Siberia depending on the season.
Of the 15 crane species in the world, sandhill cranes are the most numerous and wide-ranging. In North America, there are several recognized subspecies, including two non-migratory populations that are each restricted to Mississippi and Florida. Sandhill cranes are incredibly strong flyers, and may fly as many as 400 miles in one day during migration.
Winter: Sandhill cranes are usually found in the southern United States and along Mexico’s northern border at the beginning of the year. In late winter, they can be seen in certain parts of California, Texas, Florida, and other southern states.
Spring: Sandhill cranes migrate north in the early spring and can be seen in several West and Midwest states, such as Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Montana, Illinois, and Indiana. During spring migration, a 75-mile stretch of Nebraska’s Platte River is used by 80% of all sandhill cranes in North America. Over 500,000 birds spend time in the area in March and April, getting ready to travel north to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska.
Summer: As summer draws near, the northernmost areas of the contiguous United States typically see sandhill cranes. S. and in Canada and Alaska. In the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska, about one-third of the sandhill crane population in North America breeds. They are found in Siberia and other northern regions outside of the Americas.
Fall: When autumn draws near, the cranes retrace their perilous path and head south once more.
5) People love to celebrate sandhill cranes.
Throughout history, the sandhill crane has attracted the attention of numerous groups due to its breathtaking beauty, which has influenced cultures worldwide. Around the country, there are at least ten sandhill crane festivals each year. S. from Tennessee to Washington. Colorado alone has two!.
The Monte Vista Crane Festival commemorates the thousands of sandhill cranes that meet in the Monte Vista National Wildlife refuge. Cranes have been passing though this area of Colorado for hundreds of years and they are traditionally met by an onslaught of eager birdwatchers trying to get a glimpse of these elegant creatures. The cranes arrive in this area mid-February and leave by early April.
The Yampa Valley Crane Festival celebrates the Sandhill Cranes nesting and raising their young in the Yampa Valley. The Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition runs this festival in order to celebrate this majestic bird and educate the public.
The Nebraska Crane Festival is a month-long spring celebration of the cranes migration through the Nebraska flyway.
The Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival happens every fall when cranse return to the California Delta.
TNC Preserves and Projects with Sandhill Cranes
Despite their apparent similarities, cranes and herons are actually very distantly related. Learn how they differ.
- Lifespan Herons typically live no longer than five or six years in the wild, whereas cranes can live an average of ten to twenty years.
- Clutch Size Herons lay four to seven times as many eggs as cranes do, on average, but cranes only lay two.
- A heron’s and a crane’s appearance during flight can be challenging to distinguish. Remembering that cranes fly with their necks straight and herons with their necks curved is one of the simplest ways to tell the two species apart.
FAQ
Where do sandhill cranes migrate to in winter?
Where do sandhill cranes go in summer?
What months do Sandhill Crane migrate?
Why do some sandhill cranes not migrate?