Previous intern, Kyle Hulbert, and volunteer, Miles Roth, count cranes at Goose Pond. Photo by Emma Raasch
In the early hours of Saturday, April 9, 2022 crane enthusiasts around Wisconsin and portions of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota sat eagerly awaiting the first rattling cries of the sandhill, or maybe even whooping, cranes. The Annual Midwest Crane Count, which originated in Columbia county in 1976, has evolved to include 100 counties across the midwest with over 2,500 volunteers each year. The crane count provides the International Crane Foundation (ICF) with valuable data used to monitor the abundance, distribution, and dispersal of the eastern population of Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes.
Joy Eriksen, who has coordinated the Crane Count in Columbia county for most years since 1986, says the crane count is not only about providing ICF with useful data, but also “the excitement of people coming in and reporting what they saw, whether it was cranes or deer or turkeys…this year eagles were the main talk, [specifically] who saw an eagle’s nest”.
Joy mentions that this excitement and appreciation for cranes has provided loyal volunteers who have been counting for 20-30 years, and stop for one of three reasons: “moving away, retiring, and dying!”. However, she urges young and enthusiastic birders to get involved with the crane count, and notes that many counties need coordinators around the state.
Goose Pond Sanctuary (site #169) Madison Audubon
The Goose Pond crane counters Emma Raasch (Goose Pond staff), Kyle Hulbert (previous Prairie Partner intern), and Miles Roth and Gracia Sandok (volunteers) did not have to wait long for signs of the first cranes. At 5:35 a.m. only five minutes after beginning the count, they heard their first pair of cranes calling in unison. By 6:00 a.m. there was a glow in the east that helped reveal 21 Sandhill Cranes silhouetted on Goose Pond, while three cranes bellowed west of the pond and one wailed to the north. In total, they saw and heard 27 Sandhill Cranes, a record for the Annual Midwest Crane Count at Goose Pond!
In addition to counting cranes, crane counters take note of breeding behaviors such as occupied nests, nests with eggs, nest building, and probable courtship, display, or copulation (i.e. unison calling). Not only did they record two pairs calling in unison, but they also noted a pair of nesting cranes on the pond with two eggs, which can be seen live on the Goose Pond webcam. Water levels are low in the pond, however the restored wetland scrapes where the crane pair is nesting are providing ideal habitat.
Nesting Sandhill Crane on Goose Pond surrounded by Canada Geese and a Redhead Duck. Photo pulled from Madison Audubon’s Goose Pond Webcam
Two sandhill cranes, perhaps the pair that can be seen nesting with two eggs on the Goose Pond webcam, captured by Snapshot Wisconsin trail camera at Goose Pond.
Otsego Marsh (site #168) Madison Audubon
At Otsego Marsh, Deb Wearne-Neurohr and Steve Wearne counted a total of seven Sandhill Cranes. Among the seven Cranes were three pairs calling in unison and a single Crane calling alone. Amongst the Sandhill Cranes, the Otsego Marsh crane counters recorded Canada Geese, a Red-tailed Hawk, Mallards, and Wood Ducks hopefully nesting in our duck nest boxes.
Schoenberg Marsh (site #151) US Fish and Wildlife Service
Anne Mosher and Dave Beavan counted a total of six Sandhill Cranes at Schoenberg Marsh Waterfowl Production Area adjacent to Madison Audubon’s Erstad Prairie. Of the six Sandhill Cranes, two pairs appeared to be nest building. Other wildlife sightings include Tundra Swans, Buffleheads, a Bald Eagle, and a raccoon.
Erstad Prairie (site #124) Madison Audubon
At Erstad Prairie, Daryl Sherman and Kathryn Lederhouse counted a total of five Sandhill Cranes on site, however they heard and saw nine Sandhill Cranes off site. The Erstad crane counters also saw Canada Geese, Turkeys, and three deer.
Wildland LLC, (site #29) Mark and Susan Foote-Martin and protected by a conservation easement held by Madison Audubon
Mark reported 24 Sandhill Cranes, 11 pairs and two singles. Mark noted that the 87 acres of former cropland in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) proved to be important habitat for five pairs of Sandhill Cranes. Twenty years ago the entire 87 acres was farmed wetlands. In addition to the cranes, Mark saw 29 other species including nesting Wood Ducks, nesting Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, and a winnowing Wilson’s Snipe.
Thanks to everyone that helped count and special thanks to Joy for her decades of coordinating the Columbia Sandhill Crane Count. Mark summarized some of the history of Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin and Goose Pond in 2019. Sandhills were recorded first nesting at Goose Pond in 1995, however, they probably nested at Goose Pond in the 1800s.
I really enjoyed seeing the sun rise, hearing these magnificent birds and finding the highest crane count numbers at Goose Pond Sanctuary. Miles and I look forward to the 2023 Sandhill Crane Count.
Written by Emma Raasch, Goose Pond Sanctuary Staff
Cover photo by Mick Thompson
