International Crane Foundation

[JAS]

Earlier this month my wife and I attended the first Midwest Crane Festival in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It was co-sponsored by the International Crane Foundation and the Aldo Leopold Foundation (author of Sand County Almanac). There were presentations and tours and we plan to come back next year. The photos are here, rather than in the wildlife section to help promote management and recovery efforts for the wildlife we have.

We encourage all of you to continue your support of such wildlife and habitat recovery and restoration projects.

At the Also Leopold Center, we learned of the recovery of the Greater Sandhill Crane from 15-30 mating pairs by the 1930's, as estimated at a migration stopover location at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife in Indiana where they still gather each fall. This bird summers around the Great Lakes and has recovered due to proper management and support with a current population of approaching 100K birds. This population is distinct from the Lesser Sandhill Cranes we see fly through Kearney, NE each year.

We also visited the International Crane they have onexhibit the 15 different Cranes found around the world. In North America we have the Whooping Crane ans Sandhill Cranes. Not all of the varieties were in their diplays when we visited. It was on the snowy, cold side so many birds were not in their displays. I just wanted to share a few photos of those birds andf encourage all to continue their support of efforts like these to restore and maintain our wiodlife resources. Here are a few photos of the captive cranes to show these beeautiful birds.

Blue Crane

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Demoiselle Crane

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Wattled Crane

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Red-Crowned Crane

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Brolga Crane

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Black-necked Crane

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[Richard Stern]

Very nice mages! The International Crane Foundation was founded, and for many years directed, by George W. Archibald, whom I have met a couple of times - what a lovely, humble, self-effacing man, despite an incredible career and many awards for his work with cranes. If people ever get a chance to hear him talking about his adventures all over the world rescuing cranes and their habitat, often in dangerous places, needing tremendous diplomacy, he is an amazing speaker. There are several books abut cranes, but in particular a lovely one about their biology, role in different cultures, folklore, art etc., by novelist and birder Peter Matthiessen, called The Birds of Heaven- Travels with Cranes. Looks like you had a great time with these amazing birds.

 

[Maljo]

Very nice photos, thanks for posting.

 

[JAS]

Very nice mages! The International Crane Foundation was founded, and for many years directed, by George W. Archibald, whom I have met a couple of times - what a lovely, humble, self-effacing man, despite an incredible career and many awards for his work with cranes. If people ever get a chance to hear him talking about his adventures all over the world rescuing cranes and their habitat, often in dangerous places, needing tremendous diplomacy, he is an amazing speaker. There are several books abut cranes, but in particular a lovely one about their biology, role in different cultures, folklore, art etc., by novelist and birder Peter Matthiessen, called The Birds of Heaven- Travels with Cranes. Looks like you had a great time with these amazing birds.

We attended a talk from Dr. Stan Temple - Professor Emeritus UW-Madison which was A great histrtoy of the recovery of the Sandhill Crane. There was also a good talk on the meaning of crane display behaviors from Anne LAcy at the ICF. We are now members and plan to go back for more visits and tours.