Migratory Birds

[Mama Fishcacher]

I was out caching today in the SE Dane Cty/Western Jefferson Cty area and there were lots of geese, but best of all – I saw a whole bunch of whooping cranes!!!! I thought I was seeing a once in a lifetime thing at the first cache when I heard this noise, thought I was hearing turkeys, but then saw two cranes fly over me. Then 3 more joined them. Then I was driving down a county road and saw two more cranes standing in a field. (Did I bring my camera today?!!?!?!? Of course not! Did I learn my lesson? Yep.) I pulled over to watch them and they started cussing me out in crane-speak, lol. (They sure can get loud!) So left them in peace.

Then I went to another cache and by golly, I saw 6 more cranes there, and I could hear a whole bunch more! Between them and the geese, they make quite the concert!

So if you get a chance to go out caching in the area in the next few days, I highly suggest it! Maybe you’ll see some cranes too!

~Mama Fishcacher

[twenty-two]

I absolutely love seeing and hearing cranes. We took a trip down to the Platte River in Nebraska about two years ago. The area is a resting stop for Sandhills (and the very occasional Whooper) during their spring migration. There were thousands, upon thousands of Sandhills there at the time. Truly awesome sights and sounds!

Just to clarify… are you certain that what you saw were Whooping Cranes, not Sandhill Cranes? Whooping Cranes are on the endangered species list and there are currently only about 20 adults living in Wisconsin. Whoopers are white, whereas Sandhills are gray or light blue-ish in color. What you saw may very well have been Whooping Cranes, but either way, it’s a fantastic experience!

[GrouseTales]

I too would imagine they are probably sandhill cranes. I’ve been seeing a lot of them lately. They sure do make a racket when they fly over

[This message has been edited by GrouseTales (edited 03-17-2004).]

[greyhounder]

I once had a very exciting encounter with some cranes (I think they were Sandhill.) But, yes, they are all over here in Jefferson County. It’s really cool to see a whole…..um, herd (I’m not sure of the word for this type of group. Anyway, I live near water, which cranes like. For a short time after I got my greyhound, I didn’t have a fenced in yard and had to walk him 4+ times a day for potty breaks. Behind my house is a large feild that is part of the school, and we walked there lots. A couple of cranes apparently had a nest somewhere around there. Early one morning Cat (the greyhound’s name) and I were out walking and came upon the cranes. Cat could care less, but I wanted a closer look. Well the cranes started hopping and hooting. It looked crazy, but it looked like they meant business, so we hightailed it back to the house. Now I’m a little scared of getting too close — LOL!

Bec

[skarolek]

quote:

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Originally posted by greyhounder:
For a short time after I got my greyhound,

Bec

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Bec,

I know someone who has 3 greyhounds and has to orphan them due to a move. Two are taken care of but there’s still one that might wind up at the humane society. “Pro” is a 7yr old beautiful female. We had her over for a few hours but decided she is too big (82lbs of rock solid muscle) for us to adopt. If you have any room in your life for another, please contact me ASAP as I think Pro’s life is drawing short…

Steve K

[greyhounder]

Steve K!

I think I just emailed you (there was an email address on your homepage.) Please get in contact with me regarding the greyhound. I will most certainly take her in. In addition to my geocaching addiction, I am insane for greyhounds!!!!

And now back to our regularly scheduled program….migratory birds of Jefferson County……

Bec

[Mama Fishcacher]

I was able to do some research and found out that what I saw were sandhill cranes and not whooping cranes. (Found some sound files online of the “song”??? they make and definitely sandhills.) Still very cool. I’ve never seen or heard them before!

The ones I saw on the side of the road were ornery looking too like the ones Bec described! I was worried they were gonna come peck me!!! LOL! I wonder if they’re mean and aggressive….

[greyhounder]

Cranes will fiercely protect their nests. And I don’t think you’d want to cross them! On our way back from The Hills of Rome Cache, a mating pair of cranes flew overhead and spotted us. They actually came back and made enough noise to get us to hurry along.

I once saw a HUGE grouping of cranes in a field. I had retold my previous encounter with them & Cat, and I was then dared to walk into the bunch o’ cranes. Being the weenie that I am, I stepped out of the vehicle towards the gaggle. Instantly they began hooting and I jumped back into the vehicle — I could only imagine what would have happened to me had I actually entered the crowd (perhaps then the proper term would have been a murder of cranes?)

I am a bird watcher anyways, so I really enjoy the birds that caching brings into my life.

But there do seem to be many more cranes around these days. Whooping cranes are less common, but they often travel with Sandhill cranes, and they are very subtly different (off the top of my head I cannot remember how.) Did you know that they are actually white birds, although most appear brownish due to the pollution of the waters they frequent?

Bec

[Mama Fishcacher]

I don’t have to start dragging my Peterson Field Guide around, I’ll just start dragging Bec around!

[greyhounder]

Just call me the Cliff Claven of the bird world…..LOL!

Bec

[GrouseTales]

A few photos and audio recordings for your enjoyment

Sandhill crane:

Listen to the Sandhill’s Here

Sandhill:

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Whooping cranes:

Listen to the Whooping Crane calls

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And let’s not forget one of Wisconsin’s most beautiful and abundant gamebirds, the Ruffed Grouse

While not a migratory species, the Grouse’s mating ritual, starts early in the spring. This ritual called “drumming” is when the male beats his wings in a rapid manner which causing the “drumming” sounds. People often mistake it for the sound of motors starting in the distance.

You can hear a male grouse drumming Here.

If your caching this spring in the northern or western part of the state, there is a good chance you will hear grouse drumming.

[This message has been edited by GrouseTales (edited 03-17-2004).]

[pharmteam]

Since my next task tonight is to enter bird counts for Project FeederWatch this birdy thread was interesting to me. We have seen the cranes in the general area mentioned this year already too. Usually there are Sandhills in the Vernon Marsh near Mukwonago. And in summer they sometimes can be seen in the fields around there and even in the park with Place of the Bears geocache.
A good place to visit with kids is the Crane Foundation near Baraboo, which has many kinds of cranes and lots of information.
One of the first migratory birds to arrive back north is the male red-wing blackbird, who arrives before the females to stake out a territory and they can be very defensive of that territory as some joggers have noted. We have seen quite few of these males in cattail areas already this year too
This week we have misguided robins visiting our heated birdbath and the raisins and apples pieces we put out to help them.

[Flushingrouse]

I really had no idea how many cachers may be bird lovers as well… We always have our Peterson’s guide along with us, if not in a pack it’s definately in the van!

Inherited the love of birds from my parents and intend to continue the tradition….

A few years back, Anne and I took part in a fundraiser where people donated “x” amount per bird sighted in a day… We had a blast!

Here’s to the rest of you bird lovers!!

Team Flushingrouse

[wzbt03]

I would imagine that quite a few geocachers are also avid birdwatchers or at least know most of the common ones.
The most unusual one to visit this year was a gyrafalcon which visited a week ago. While rare below the arctic circle they sometimes make it down as far as we are.
Bird counts are a lot of fun and its great to hear that some of our group is involved in them.
As far as cranes go, it is great to see the population of Sandhills so healthy in Wisconsin. They always serenade a geocacher .

[Ms. WISearcher]

I got excited to read your story…I teach quite a bit about cranes and often have the International Crane Foundation come to do guest appearances in my classroom. I did have a recent encounter with two whoopers and without a fraction of a doubt they were in fact whoopers. It is rare to see a large group of them together as stated above there are so few in WI(in the world for that matter), but seeing any large birds in their natural habitat is sure a thing of beauty (ask me about my Heron experience sometime). Sounds like you had a very enjoyable experience nonetheless!!! Thanks for sharing.

[Author]

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