Kip’s Comments - April 18, 2026

Crane Count 2026

Very early this morning, before the sun appeared near the horizon, while temperatures were near or below freezing, and the wind was blowing strong, conservation-minded individuals spread out across suitable habitat in the Upper Midwest to count sandhill cranes. Joining me for this year’s count were my brother, my niece, and my nephew. None of them had counted cranes before, so today was a learning experience.

My count location each year tends to be a hotspot for seeing and hearing cranes. We counted 32 bird-in-flight observations and heard unison calls from 3 pairs.

Our count activity was slow in the beginning, picked up for a bit, then slowed to nothing after we had two large flights of cranes leave the area.

Sandhill Cranes in Flight Silhouette - Image 1090144 (photographed when still dark out)

During our watch time we also had several pairs of trumpeter swans fly over or near by. I think my counting partners enjoyed seeing the swans. There were a great many teal flying around, but I did not photograph them.

Trumpeter Swans in Flight - Image 1090197

After the sandhill crane count activity ended I was treated to seeing several pairs of wood ducks in better light. This was one pair.

Wood Ducks - image 1090269