45th Annual Midwest Crane Count Media Release

  

Media Release 

Contact: Sara Gavney Moore, Digital Communications Program Manager, International Crane Foundation 608-356-9462, ext. 155, cranecount@savingcranes.org 

Facebook: facebook.com/savingcranes Twitter: twitter.com/savingcranes 

County Coordinator: _____________________________________ 

                     In Search of Crane Counters! 

On Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., the International Crane Foundation will sponsor the 45th Annual Midwest Crane Count. Over 1,000 volunteer participants from throughout Wisconsin and portions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota participate in the spring survey, which gathers information on the abundance and distribution of cranes in the upper Midwest. 

New volunteers interested in taking part in the survey should first contact their local County Coordinator for instructions. Visit www.cranecount.org for the list of 2021 County Coordinators.

 Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, crane count volunteers should plan on wearing a mask during the count and stay at least six feet from other participants from different households. Participants should also avoid carpooling with participants from outside their household and counting in large groups to limit exposure to COVID-19. 

The International Crane Foundation sponsors the Annual Midwest Crane Count as a part of its mission to conserve the world’s 15 species of cranes and the natural communities on which they depend. Sandhill Cranes once nearly disappeared from Wisconsin, but the species has successfully recovered and is slowly expanding into neighboring states. Observations of Sandhill Cranes can lend insight into threatened crane species, including the endangered Whooping Crane. There are now approximately 80 Whooping Cranes in the reintroduced population in central Wisconsin, and Crane Counters may have a chance of sighting a Whooping Crane during the survey. 

 For more information on the Annual Midwest Crane Count: Visit www.cranecount.org and contact your county coordinator, or contact Sara Gavney Moore, International Crane Foundation Digital Communications Program Manager, at 608-356-9462 ext. 155, cranecount@savingcranes.org

this year's count blew me away!

Long range forecast told of a break to the cold stretch. Temps in the 60s was going to feel very welcome on Saturday for the count. As the weekend approached, the forecast changed... considerably. I would have taken the cold over what we got. Even though Waukesha County was very windy, cold and a little rainy, it could have been worse. There was a foot or more of snow in the northern counties Saturday morning, which we didn't see here until Saturday night. Snow is still falling Monday, with 4-5" accumulated already.

I didn't read the Crane Foundation's Friday night email about possibility of rescheduling until the day after the count. It pertained more to northern part of state, but I always assumed the count had to be on same day, same time for everyone so we didn't double-count birds. It certainly occured to me while on my site Saturday what would we do if weather ever got worse than it already was? It's got to be the worst conditions I've encountered on the count since doing this.

Will have to have a better system set up in the future for contacting counters in bad weather.

I wouldn't have cancelled this year though. It was windy, but if you're dressed for the weather... If we had the snow like we got the next day I probably would have rescheduled, but this year so glad we did it. I heard from only one counter staying in due to weather. I counted three cranes more than I would have had I stayed home. This was the perfect first opportunity to get out on a nature hike since winter and I didn't want a little weather to dissuade or discourage us. Working 6-day weeks, including day of the count, I have fewer opportunities to recharge. Wasn't going to let a little wind blow this chance.

I was the last to arrive at our new after-count breakfast venue. At 7:30 count's end I was still a distance from the car, and my site was quite a distance from the cafe. Had a great turnout of about 15 counters, a good meal and good conversation.

I have yet to hear from everyone. I expect numbers to be lower this year, but from what I have heard so far, we didn't get skunked...

I had Site 18 for the first time. The Newell and Ann Meyer Nature Preserve is south of Eagle, far SW Waukesha County, right on the county line. Loved it, and would return in a heartbeat. Such a blessing for the hidden gems in Waukesha County.

tomorrow's count

Tomorrow's weather is really not looking pretty. Definitely less favorable than we've enjoyed last couple years. Long-range forecast looked decent, but not now. It's a cold drizzle now, Friday, and we could see snow tomorrow.

Enough about the weather.

Like the crane migration, most of our counters have returned for another year. We are thrilled with the tremendous response from first-timers, including several Arrowhead biology students!  We're also happy to see the several girl scouts return for another count at Site 24.

Every year I seem to get a lot of activity, mainly new volunteers offering to help, in the last week or just days before the count. This year was the same, but in a very good way. My last group email contained an attached map of all sites taken. I'm glad counters were checking this and notifying me, because I had missed a couple.

I've been coordinating the Waukesha County count for a few years now. I've changed jobs and shifts since the last count and am working a lot more weekends, including tomorrow after the count, but as long as I have time and enjoy what I'm doing...

One benefit to coordinating is the flexibility in picking my own site. I'm definitely trying out more sites, both good and bad, as coordinator. Every time I think I find a great site and feel like keeping it I end up giving it to someone new so they can enjoy it also. Then I try a different site and feel like keeping it...  Though thankfully few, there are some unproductive or inaccessible sites, and I will discourage new counters from taking those.

I just picked my own site yesterday. The latest I've ever done this. I've discovered a neat feature on Google Maps showing state natural areas.  You can go to satellite view and see if it's marshy or wooded. Cranes don't hang out in trees. You can read visitor reviews and, comparing it to the Waukesha Crane Count site map, can see if the state natural area overlaps a site. (Even if it doesn't overlap, we still have the option of counting it.) But one of the best features of State Natural Areas is the public aspect of it. No tresspassing! I'm going to be counting at the Newell and Ann Meyer Nature Preserve just south of Eagle tomorrow. It's going to be a challenge visiting a new site for the first time while still dark, but won't be the first time.

The last five or more years those counters interested have been meeting after the count at Deb's Diner for food and fellowship. Sadly, Deb's has closed. We were looking for a replacement in the same general vicinity, and my wife and I enjoyed several Sunday excursions trying the possibilities. We wanted a place somewhat centrally-located and priced right for our group. We have settled on Sunny Side Up Family Restaurant in Dousman, not far from Deb's and just as easy to get to. I enjoyed it, so we'll see tomorrow what the others think.

Well, I wasn't planning to say so much, but when it's been a year since my last post...

the numbers just don't add up... without you

Today is April 1st and, no kidding, next Saturday's Crane Count is going to be great. The long-range weather forecast hasn't changed. If next Saturday is anything like today, it will be gorgeous.

Half of our 52 Waukesha County sites will be counted this year, plus at least three persons counting outside sites at unique locations. I've been in contact with the Crane Foundation to address the website issue we've been having regarding entering coordinates for the unique locations. There's no problem with data entering for the "official" sites however.

We welcome this year several new people to the Crane Count Community. Waukesha has a lot of productive crane habitat. Hopefully they found a good site and won't be disappointed.

Many of the counters see one another but once a year. Several of us like to meet up after the count to compare stories and share photos. Everyone is welcome at Deb's Diner on Main Street, Dousman. The food is good, and they really appreciate the business. Just show up anytime after the count. We'll recognize you.

There are a lot of really great people willing to get up early to volunteer their time doing this. On rare occasion we neither see nor hear cranes, though I have yet to hear anyone complain that just watching the sun rise over field, marsh, river or lake was time wasted.
I'm looking forward to it. Hope you are too.

weather or not we count?

In case you've been wondering "weather" or not you count, the answer is Yes!, you definitely count. We will always count. Whether weather is warm and sunny, or not, the Annual Midwest Crane Count will procede. If you've been doing this awhile you know conditions on count day aren't always ideal.

This year, with the early count, a week earlier than other years due to Easter, we will be dealing with, presumably, chillier temps, in addition to a slightly later sunrise. The Count starts at 5:30, but the big star to the east doesn't show itself for nearly another hour: 6:22 on count day, April 8th.

The long range count day forecast is for 48 degrees with possible rain and a mild breeze. Truthfully, that's not too bad. Winter only just ended. We do need an excuse to get outdoors. Nice out isn't the first requirement just yet.
 

42 years of counting cranes.

From Int'l Crane Foundation:

The 1976 Columbia County Crane Survey
In 1976, the Crane Count began as a survey in Columbia County, Wisconsin in search of Sandhill Cranes to identify the locations the cranes utilized, study their ecology, and later determine a better estimate of their population in the county. The initial survey involved less than two hundred volunteers.

The Annual Midwest Sandhill Crane CountIn 1994, Crane Count expanded from a statewide survey to the upper Midwest, involving Minnesota and Michigan. Illinois followed in 1995, and Iowa in 1996. As the crane population steadily expands into neighboring states, Crane Count still allows the International Crane Foundation to monitor the abundance, distribution, and dispersal of the eastern population of Sandhill Cranes. In 2000, participants counted a record total of over 13,500 Sandhill Cranes spread throughout portions of the five states. Crane Count continues to evolve with more than 100 counties participating each year. Currently, more than 2,500 volunteer counters participate each year.

The Annual Midwest Crane CountIn 2005, due to promising efforts by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership reintroducing Whooping Cranes into Wisconsin, we renamed the Crane Count to include the endangered Whooping Cranes that now grace our Midwestern landscape.

Happy Spring!

    First day of spring is finally arriving tomorrow. Even though we had a comparitively mild, rather snowless winter, that late-season snowfall a week ago had to cause problems for the spring migration already underway. Thankfully, snow is mostly melted, but between the chill still in the air and moving the Annual Crane Count up a week to accommodate Easter weekend, it's a fair guess we won't see weather as gorgeous as last year's count.

    Last year we had 33 counters at 23 Waukesha County sites count an amazing total of 225 cranes! Waukesha is chock full of crane habitat: corn fields, lakes, streams and marshes. If you'd like to join us this year, we'd love to have you. There's 52 "official" sites in Waukesha, and most are still available. 

    You don't have to be a birder to be a crane counter. Being tallest, and probably loudest, bird in North America, cranes are also the easiest to count. 

    Crane counters aren't loners! We love to get together after the count at Deb's Diner on Main Street in Dousman to compare notes, stories and photos. Reconnecting in spring of each year is something we all look forward to after the count. 

Best Day of the Year and a Reason to Enjoy it

Sunny, dry, calm winds, mild temps... The 41st Annual Midwest Crane Count was surely one of the best... A great site on a Golden Lake. Cranes-a-plenty. Who could ask for more?