A pair of Sandhill Cranes (photo by Monica Hall).
This past spring, the Wisconsin Legislative Council announced they would be creating a study committee on Sandhill Cranes. The committee’s purpose is focused on addressing the agricultural impact of cranes in our state, with part of the stated scope to “consider whether the Department of Natural Resources should seek federal approval to establish a hunting season for sandhill cranes.”
Bird conservation organizations were not included in the initial discussions or planning of the legislative study. Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance has previously spoken up about the issue of a Sandhill Crane hunt. According to a statewide survey conducted in 2023 by the International Crane Foundation (ICF), few Wisconsinites support one. Crucially, research has also shown that hunting is not an effective way to reduce crop depredation by cranes.
Along with other bird and crane experts at ICF and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology (WSO), Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance was invited and proactively applied to join the committee. We wanted to ensure that the perspectives of bird conservationists and birders would be fully represented.
We are disappointed that neither Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance nor WSO were selected, but our partners at ICF and Wisconsin’s Green Fire will serve on the committee. Both will be able to present science-based information about crane biology, behavior, and conservation, in addition to proposing successful solutions that are proven to reduce crop depredation. Other groups with seats on the committee are the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, plus two waterfowl hunting groups, the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and the North Dakota based Delta Waterfowl.
Committee meetings will be open to the public and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will be paying careful attention to them. We look forward to the announcement of the meeting details and any other updates, which we will share with our members. We are staying in close communication with our partners on the committee and with the broader alliance of bird conservation organizations throughout the state on this important issue.
Thank you for being an informed, responsible advocate for bird conservation.
