Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 11/27/2023

The winter snowstorm that arrived this weekend has sent our cranes on their southern journey.  Observations on the overlook this afternoon were impacted a bit by the light snow falling in the hours before sunset.  There was good traffic coming into the marsh until just a bit before 5 PM.  Then some of the settled cranes flew out of the marsh, while others were coming in. There was a maximum of just 262 cranes in but I finished at just 182 roosting overnight.

I did not detect any open water in Mud Lake Marsh, but Eagle Lake was wide open and about 150 Ring Neck Duck were seen.

With the temperatures low for the next week and the marsh frozen, tonight’s observation will be the last of the season.

The complete eBird checklist is here:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S155340648

Counters: Steve Jerant
Compiler: Steve Jerant
Total Cranes Roosting:  182