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Sandhill Cranes Are Expanding Their Range
Cranes are now breeding in several parts of New England
© Mick Thompson
In some parts of North America, Sandhill Cranes are common as ants at a picnic. In New England, on the other hand, they’ve been almost as rare as pterodactyls — until relatively recently! Birders began reporting cranes scattered throughout the region. When a Sandhill Crane chick hatched in Maine in 2000, it was evident the New England birds were not just strays. Cranes now breed in several parts of New England, especially Massachusetts.
BirdNote®
Sandhill Cranes Are Expanding Their Range
Written by Edward Ricciuti
This is BirdNote.
In some parts of North America, Sandhill Cranes are common as ants at a picnic. The largest population breeds in Canada and Alaska. Afterward they gather in the thousands at southern wintering grounds, like this flock in New Mexico.
[Sandhill Crane flock calls]
In New England, on the other hand, they’ve been almost as rare as pterodactyls. Until relatively recently! Small numbers of Sandhill Cranes now appear throughout the region.
[Sandhill Crane call]
At first, birders couldn’t believe their eyes. But Sandhill Cranes are unmistakable. They stand almost four feet tall, with a wingspan around six feet. Their plumage is gray with a brilliant red forehead.
When a Sandhill Crane chick hatched in Maine in 2000, it was evident the New England birds were not just strays. Cranes now breed in several parts of New England, especially Massachusetts.
[Two Sandhill Cranes calling]
It’s one of several areas that Sandhill Cranes are recolonizing, after losing most of their historic wetland habitats east of the Mississippi.
While many species are struggling, it’s important to celebrate the successes, too.
For BirdNote, I’m Michael Stein.
This episode is sponsored in memoriam of Alice Ashbaugh, a life-long birdwatcher and amateur ornithologist.
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Senior Producer: John Kessler
Producer: Mark Bramhill
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Sandhill Crane ML240884811 recorded by Nick Tepper, and Sandhill Crane ML245373701 recorded by Glenn Hodgkins.
Sandhill Crane Xeno Canto 767340 recorded by Richard E. Webster.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2024 BirdNote February 2024
Narrator: Michael Stein
ID# SACR-05-2024-02-09 SACR-05
References:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3858395
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/sancra/cur/introduction
Michael Stein
Narrator
Ed Ricciuti
WriterSights & Sounds
