Field Notes: Cranes Galore and Winter Finches

Gathering for the Nov. 16 field trip to see the Sandhill Cranes. Photo by Mariska Harshbarger.

By aerin tedesco, CCAS Field Trip Chair

On Saturday, November 16, a group of 10 folks participated in a CCAS field trip to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area to see the Sandhill Cranes. The area is a well-known staging area for this species, and thousands of cranes are expected to pass through. This year’s trip did not disappoint and turned out to be spectacular!

Trip leader Mariska Harshbarger tells us, “We arrived a little bit before 5 o’clock, and it was already bustling with cranes! We saw around 1,000 cranes total from the observation tower, whether they were just simply flying in or already on the ground, they were definitely a sight to behold! Everyone loved hearing their calls and sounds that they made, and they were so loud! The sunset was breathtaking, and the cranes looked incredible flying across it. The best part for most attendees, though, was seeing them practice their mating rituals with their ‘dances!’ Seeing them hopping up and down, bowing to each other, flapping their wings and calling at the same time was absolutely awe-inspiring. We all had a great time and ended the night at the local Pizza King in Medaryville, sharing stories about cool birds we had seen and how we had gotten into birding! All in all, a great field trip!”

Sandhill Cranes. Photo by Mariska Harshbarger.

December is almost upon us, and although the weather seems unseasonably warm these days, it will soon be time to watch your feeders more closely! Many species of “winter finches” may be moving through our region this year, including Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, and White-winged Crossbill! Other fall/winter visitors we are already seeing more of are Purple Finch and Red-breasted Nuthatch, as well as our resident chickadees and titmice coming to the feeders more often. So make sure they are well stocked and heated bird baths are plugged in!