Haehnle Sanctuary & USFWS Crane Count 10/30/2023
by Don Henise
A brisk cold evening closed out the October counts at Phyllis Haehnle Sanctuary. We even had a snow shower cross over the marsh at one point. The number of Sandhill Cranes using the sanctuary for night roosting remains on the low side, but numbers were up just a bit from Last week. A count of 97 cranes were tallied flying into Mud Lake Marsh for the night with another 147 counted as flybys.
![](/resources/Pictures/Dhenise/2023-10-30_Haehnle%20Sanctuary(DHenise).jpg)
(Don Henise)
Gary found the season's first Rough-legged Hawk working over the marsh. It was in view most of the evening either perched on a snag or flying around hunting, often hovering over the marsh and fen to the northwest of the overlook. Bald Eagles were prevalent throughout the evening as well, with at least 8 individuals being seen. There were three adults, at least two 1st year birds and three 2nd year birds. Three of the young birds circled directly overhead together.
![](/resources/Pictures/Dhenise/2023-10-30_Bald%20Eagle(Haliaeetus%20leucocephalus)(DHenise).jpg)
Bald Eagle(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)(Don Henise)
Total Cranes Roosting: 97
Counters: Robyn Henise, Gary Siegrist
Compiled by: Don Henise
Complete eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S153445631
Editor's note:
In addition to the count at Haehnle, (https://www.fws.gov/epsandhill/node/7442)other JAS members participated in area counts for the USFWS.
Ron Hoffman & Steve Jerant counted 120 cranes roosting at the Schumacher Marsh near the Waterloo Farm Museum on Waterloo Munith Road.
https://www.fws.gov/epsandhill/node/7441
Ross Green and Lathe Claflin reported the night's high of 198 cranes at marshland just north of the Haehnle Sanctuary.