16 January 2025
Last week I heard there were more than 100 sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) at the Volant Strip Grasslands (plus short-eared owls) so on Sunday morning, 12 January, Debbie Kalbfleisch and I drove up to Lawrence County.
On Rt 19 just north of Jackson School Road I could see them from the passenger window. From Black Road we had the same view as Glenn Koppel’s photo taken later that same day. Woo hoo! 116!
I was glad there was snow on the ground because these tall gray birds show up easily against white but can be hard to see in brown vegetation.
Fifteen years ago there was no snow when I went to up north find them, again in Lawrence County. I thought I’d never see them and then …
Find out what happened in this 2009 vintage article, including an elusive plastic bag snowy owl.
I love the Sand Hill. They are abundant and protected here. We even have road signs warning you to slow down!! Just before Christmas I was sitting in my living room, and the cat was in the sunroom at the window looking out. All of a sudden I hear a knock on the window. There were two Sand Hills “playing” “annoying” her at the window. I took pictures, but they didn’t come out so well. Have a wonderful day, Kate!!