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...