Great sandhill crane migration
Every year, thousands and thousands of migrating sandhill cranes descend on a field in the middle of nowhere in rural Indiana, as they get ready for their annual trek to warmer climes. The spectacle is indescribable, and absolutely free to anyone willing to brave the frigid November winds on a wide open field at sunset.
Large flocks of sandhill cranes can be seen at Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area from mid-October through mid-December, culminating in crowds of birds exceeding 30,000 in late November and early December. This makes Thanksgiving weekend and ideal time to skip the shopping mall, and head out on a bird-viewing expedition.
I guarantee that you will never see (or hear) anything quite like thousands of migrating birds, each of which is as tall as a middleschooler (though considerably lighter), all gathered in one place as if to attend a festival of some sort. As with many animals, the prime viewing times are sunrise and sunset. At dawn, huge flocks fly in from their roosting marshes to feed in the surrounding farm fields. On their way to breakfast many birds stop in the open grassland areas of the refuge. Then, about an hour before dusk, flocks of cranes descend into the refuge near the observation area. It is truly an amazing sight to watch as groups sweep in from all directions, swelling the numbers on the ground. The birds chatter in their otherworldly chirps, socialize and perform various displays before returning to roosting marshes at nightfall.
The Jasper Pulaski refuge features a large platform with excellent views of the Sandhill Crane Observation Area, and this is the ideal place to watch the crane spectacle in its full glory. The roosting marshes in the Waterfowl Resting Area are not open to the public, so that migrating birds can rest without human disturbance.
Occasionally the birds may gather close to the observation platform, but generally they are a few hundred yards away. Several stationary viewing scopes are available, but we definitely recommend bringing your own spotting scope or binoculars. If you’re planning on getting some good closeups, bring your most powerful zoom lens, so that you can capture images without getting too close.
This is a highly recommended and definitely family-friendly outing. Bring warm clothes and blankets, a thermos of hot chocolate, and prepare to be blown away.