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Sandhill cranes: A fall bird watching opportunity  Share
Along with the changing leaves, this season brings the trumpeting calls of sandhill cranes echoing in the skies above us. These large heron-like birds fly over our area every fall as they make their way from their summer homes in Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada to a staging area in the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville, Ind. about 60 miles east of Kankakee. At this spot, thousands of cranes gather and rest before continuing with their long migration to Florida for the winter. If you keep your ears and eyes open, you should be able to catch a view of these great birds as they pass by. I say ears, because usually you hear them before you see them. They have a modified wind pipe that helps to amplify their call, allowing it to be heard for miles. The call sounds like a trumpet making a gar-oo-oo noise, and once you have heard it, you will not mistake it for anything else. Hearing that call makes many birder's heads instinctively snap upwards in hopes of getting a glimpse of the birds.
The Greater Sandhill Cranes of our area are large gray birds with a wingspan of about 6 feet. They fly in a ''V'' formation similar to geese. But their call, long necks stretched forward and long legs trailing behind will leave no doubt that they are indeed cranes. They start coming over our area in late September and may continue passing overhead until well into December. So, if you are outdoors raking leaves or just enjoying a beautiful fall day and you hear a trumpeting noise, look up to get a glimpse of this unique fall migrant. For those wanting more information, Plum Creek Nature Center will be offering a program on sandhill cranes in November. For information, contact the Nature Center at 708-946-2216. Bob Bryerton is the facility coordinator at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Plum Creek Nature Center in Beecher. Russell Publications prints several community newspapers each week, serving Will, Kankakee and Cook counties.
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