Date: 12/8/25 7:07 am From: Edge Wade <1edgewade...> Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes Flying Over Forest Park in St. Louis 12/7
Someday I hope to get to the International Crane Foundation (but not in
winter!)
I should have included Muleshoe NWR, Bailey Co., Texas in my list, which is
based on wintering populations where cold and snow are not major factors
and where now and then a Common Crane may be found. But as to cold, that
December day at Hiawassee NWR looking for the Hooded Crane among the
Sandhills was well into the top 10 of the coldest, most miserable, painful
days I've spent birding (including Attu and our own beloved
Riverlands)--and the Hooded Crane was later ruled not countable due to
unknown origin.
Edge Wade
<1edgewade...>
On Mon, Dec 8, 2025 at 8:43 AM Daniel Getman <daniel.p.getman...> wrote:
> To that great list, I would add one I just discovered this fall: Crex
> Meadows Wildlife Area, near Grantsburg, WI. I was there in late Sept and
> saw a lot of sandhill cranes. But I understand their numbers peak in
> October. I was really impressed with the Crex Meadows habitat. It’s a
> huge area.
> Home - Friends of Crex <https://crexmeadows.org/> > crexmeadows.org
> [image: cropped-favicon-180x180.png] <https://crexmeadows.org/> > <https://crexmeadows.org/> >
>
> You could also combine the trip with a stop at the International Crane
> Foundation in Baraboo, WI, which has been instrumental in crane
> conservation around the world and has an active breeding program. It’s a
> unique opportunity to view all 15 species of cranes. Baraboo is just NW of
> Madison, WI.
>
>
> [image: grey_crowned_cranes_daniel_dolpire_600-2.jpg]
>
> Home - International Crane Foundation <https://savingcranes.org/> > savingcranes.org
>
> Relative to my note a few days ago about a “spoofing scam”, nothing so
> far. But if you’re concerned, you can go to these websites yourself. Dan
>
> Dan Getman, Kirksville, northeast MO
>
>
> On Dec 8, 2025, at 8:20 AM, Edge Wade <1edgewade...> wrote:
>
>
> If, like me, you are a birder with a deep set aversion to cold and snow
> (among my unfavoritest four-letter words), There are alternative places and
> times to frigid central Nebraska, especially in winter, to experience the
> sights of dancing cranes and their soul-rending calls. Here is a list of
> my favorite Sandhill Crane wintering sites:
>
> 1. Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro Co., New Mexico.
> 2. Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, Cochise Co., Arizona
> 3. Bitter Lake NWR, Chaves Co., New Mexico
> 4. Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR (Unit 1), Imperial Co., California
> 5. Jasper-Pulaski FWA, Jasper Co., Indiana
> 6. Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Meigs Co., Tennessee
>
> Edge Wade
> Columbia, MO
> <1edgewade...>
>
> On Mon, Dec 8, 2025 at 7:38 AM Lisa Saffell <lesfstl...> wrote:
>
>> Congrats Mark! This past Thursday I was ending my day at BK Leach,
>> sitting in my truck enjoying a hot thermos of soup and watching the sun go
>> down when I had between 30 and 40 fly over me. Like edge, I get shivers
>> too when I hear them! I highly recommend a trip to Kearney Nebraska for
>> the Crane Festival in the spring. It’s truly a magical experience.
>>
>>
>> “A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a
>> song.” — Maya Angelou
>>
>> Lisa Saffell, St. Louis
>> @instagram.com/lisasaffell
>> @instagram.com/stl_birder
>>
>> On Dec 8, 2025, at 7:05 AM, Mark Glenshaw <mglenshaw...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I heard and then saw 8-10 Sandhill Cranes flying over Pagoda Circle in
>> Forest Park in St. Louis going W-SW yesterday at 3:40pm. They were lifers
>> for me! I heard this sound that I did not know exactly but was slightly
>> familiar and I looked up and clearly saw their coloration and the extended
>> crane neck in flight. I got my binos on them for a second but they were
>> too fast for my camera. I realized later why the sound was slightly
>> familiar-I regularly hear the St. Louis Zoo's Sarus Crane calling from its
>> enclosure. Such a cool sighting!
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Mark
>>
>> Mark H.X. Glenshaw, CIG
>> City of St. Louis
>> Forest Park Owls
>> forestparkowls.blogspot.com
>> <mglenshaw...>
>> Twitter: @forestparkowls <https://twitter.com/forestparkowls> >> Instagram: @forestparkowls.com
>> <https://www.instagram.com/forestparkowls/> >>
>>
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