by Roy Lukes

Cranes One of Earth's Great Spectacles

It was well before dawn around ten years ago that Charlotte and I were in a most unusual predicament. We were among the more than 2,500 statewide sandhill crane watchers listening for their calls, observing and counting the large birds at our assigned area on this prearranged day. Struggling with binoculars around our necks, spotting scope, clipboards, blankets, and folding chairs in our hands and under our arms, we were walking at a right angle away from the road toward our site along the edge of a plowed field as fast as we possibly could.

Suddenly Charlotte piped up with, "Hurry up before someone sees us!" Fortunately no cars passed by at that early hour because surely the drivers would have been thoroughly puzzled over our paraphernalia and mysterious "mission." Carrying lawn chairs through a field at 5AM?

Few wild birds thrill us more than cranes, in this case the greater sandhill Cranes. Our Wisconsin cranes are part of the Eastern Population of greater sandhill Cranes, estimated in 1995 to be about 35,000.

In the case that you've not heard cranes, I hope you will someday experience the excitement of their wild, far-reaching voices. Due to a windpipe that is about five feet long, with nearly half of it looped within the keel of the breastbone, somewhat like that of a French horn, its calls are clear, shrill, and trumpet-like in quality. The clarion-like song has somewhat of a rattling or gargling quality and easily carries for a mile or more.

While flying, or during their courtship dances, they utter a shrill staccato series of notes. Charlotte and I had the pleasure a few days ago, during a late afternoon hike, to suddenly hear these crane notes far off in the distance. We soon realized that the bird was flying toward us as it suddenly came into view. Now we could watch the graceful flight of the crane and listen to its continuous flight song as it passed within 100 yards of us. We both agreed that it was one of the best lone sandhill Crane shows we had ever seen and that it had really "made our day."

Two of the most awesome wildlife watching experiences we have had in recent years involved cranes. It was along the Platte River in Nebraska that, from a blind, we experienced the incredible sights and sounds of at least 20,000 lesser sandhill cranes that were very close to where we were concealed. More recently we were treated to watching around 15,000 Greater sandhill cranes arrive at their nighttime open-field roosting area at the Jasper-Pulaski State Wildlife Area in northern Indiana.

Both of those mind-boggling adventures left us with the indelible feeling that they rank among the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth and that everyone, at least once during their lifetime, should attempt to witness one or the other, fortunately relatively easily accomplished.

I recall in retrospect, and with great fondness, the small groups of Wisconsin Rapids junior high students I took in mid-April, a car-full at a time, to witness this never-to-be-forgotten spectacle in south-central and southwestern Wood County in the late 1950's. The students' first impression of the weird but wonderful music was that it belonged somewhere in the middle of the jungle. I am convinced that, were I able to talk with some of those students today, they would clearly recall their exciting an memorable introduction to the cranes.

A new angle regarding the sandhill cranes, one that concerns me very deeply, has entered the picture. For several years the issue of hunting sandhill cranes in Wisconsin has remained under active consideration by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. This is a group of citizens, primarily those who hunt and fish, that provides input to the DNR on conservation issues concerning wildlife and wildlife management.

The resolution, one of many, to be voted upon by the attendees at the meeting this year, reads in part: "Since there is an abundance of sandhill cranes in Wisconsin and they are becoming a farm nuisance, many farmers and hunters feel we should have a limited hunt for these native Wisconsin birds." All meetings of this group throughout the state will be held on Monday, April 12, beginning at 7 p.m. in each county. Check your newspaper for the location of your county's meeting.

In my opinion it is highly doubtful that a limited hunting season on these birds, with a bag limit of one per year, will have even so much as a noticeable affect on decreasing the damage to especially fields of corn and potatoes. It is true that the cranes have expanded their range and density in the state during the past 20 or so years. Fortunately the world renowned International Crane Foundation of Baraboo, WI has done extensive research on the cranes and their habits. One of their findings is tha around 55% of the sandhills in the state are found in eight counties including Waushara, Winnebago, Marquette and Green Lake.

Insecticides have been perfected with which farmers can treat their corn seeds, thereby preventing cranes from eating the newly planted corn. I am definitely in favor of compensating the farmers for crane damage to their crops and also strongly endorse the best of cooperation between all parties through open and thorough public discussion. Above all I would like to see the greatest respect given to the International Crane Foundation and to their many years of crane research. No one knows more about the management of cranes than they do – worldwide!

The potential crane damage to crops varies considerably throughout North America. Controls are definitely needed in some areas. My strong belief is that Wisconsin is not nearly ready to require population management of these majestic birds by shooting them. I prefer live cranes to dead ones!

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This column appeared in the Door County Advocate on 04/09/1999.
© Copyright 1999 Roy Lukes. All rights reserved.