Post by Woody Williams on Sept 29, 2005 20:37:35 GMT -5
Jasper-Pulaski FWA sandhill spectacle builds slowly
Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area reports the fall arrival of migrating sandhill cranes has started.
"The first big push of 600 cranes arrived on Monday, Sept. 26," said property manager Jim Bergens. "Usually we have between 2000 and 5000 cranes at J-P by the last week in September."
These early cranes are harbingers of vast greater sandhill crane flocks that gather each fall at the northwestern Indiana fish and wildlife area near
Medaryville. These Hoosier marshes are the largest resting place in the nation for these huge, clattering birds during their fall migration to Georgia and Florida.
Large flocks of sandhills can be seen at Jasper-Pulaski FWA beginning in October. The J-P crane population peaks in mid-November and the sandhills normally resume their journey south in December. Sandhill cranes also are often spotted during the fall months flying south over Indiana in high-flying V's or circles.
The best place and times to view the cranes at Jasper-Pulaski FWA is from a handicapped-accessible observation tower next to an area known as Goose
Pasture around sunrise and sunset.
At sunrise, the cranes leave resting marshes in gigantic, noisy flocks and gather in Goose Pasture to mingle and gab loudly for awhile before ascending on 7-foot wingspans for short flights to feeding areas. During the day, cranes can be seen in nearby harvested farm fields and marshes. The cranes return to Goose Pasture about one-half hour before sunset to socialize
before flying to roosting marshes.
In March, sandhills visit Indiana again on their way to nesting sites in the upper Midwest and southern Canada.
For more information, contact Jasper-Pulaski FWA at (219) 843-4841.
A new crane migration count Website with photos, J-P maps and sound recordings of sandhill cranes will soon be available at: www.IN.gov/dnr/
Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area reports the fall arrival of migrating sandhill cranes has started.
"The first big push of 600 cranes arrived on Monday, Sept. 26," said property manager Jim Bergens. "Usually we have between 2000 and 5000 cranes at J-P by the last week in September."
These early cranes are harbingers of vast greater sandhill crane flocks that gather each fall at the northwestern Indiana fish and wildlife area near
Medaryville. These Hoosier marshes are the largest resting place in the nation for these huge, clattering birds during their fall migration to Georgia and Florida.
Large flocks of sandhills can be seen at Jasper-Pulaski FWA beginning in October. The J-P crane population peaks in mid-November and the sandhills normally resume their journey south in December. Sandhill cranes also are often spotted during the fall months flying south over Indiana in high-flying V's or circles.
The best place and times to view the cranes at Jasper-Pulaski FWA is from a handicapped-accessible observation tower next to an area known as Goose
Pasture around sunrise and sunset.
At sunrise, the cranes leave resting marshes in gigantic, noisy flocks and gather in Goose Pasture to mingle and gab loudly for awhile before ascending on 7-foot wingspans for short flights to feeding areas. During the day, cranes can be seen in nearby harvested farm fields and marshes. The cranes return to Goose Pasture about one-half hour before sunset to socialize
before flying to roosting marshes.
In March, sandhills visit Indiana again on their way to nesting sites in the upper Midwest and southern Canada.
For more information, contact Jasper-Pulaski FWA at (219) 843-4841.
A new crane migration count Website with photos, J-P maps and sound recordings of sandhill cranes will soon be available at: www.IN.gov/dnr/
