Good Morning! I watched sandhill cranes coming off the refuge this morning from 7:45 to 8:30 at a spot along CR 3. They are leaving their roost site quite a bit later than they have been - as sunrise is later. Birds seemed to be more vocal this morning as well - I this it's because they talk to each other more as they get close to foraging sites - but that's just a guess. Their calls really added to my enjoyment of the spectacle. I sat inside my car, with a hot cup of coffee in hand, windows cracked and moon roof wide open. It was awesome! The cranes have also moved to different fields to forage during the day, in response to additional corn fields being harvested. For the last couple of days birds have been along CR 70, north of its junction with CR 3, in good numbers. They're easier to see, as they're closer to the road. However, please stop as far away from the birds as possible when viewing, because if you get too close, and stop your car, they'll leave. If you get out of your car, they'll leave. And this morning I learned that if a large white dog comes out to greet your vehicle, they'll leave. Guess they don't like large, white dogs. You can tell when you're too close, as birds quit foraging, stand up straight, tall and still, looking at you and each other, and then they flush. In my experience, they don't just move away to the far end of the field, they completely leave the area and find a different field. I say this as a caution, so that we, as watchers, aren't pushing birds from one field to another all day long when they should be eating and fattening up for the next leg of their journey. Bring good binoculars and spotting scopes and enjoy them from a little distance away. It's the right thing to do. Look for the crane viewing map that's on our refuge web site at www.fws.gov/midwest/sherburne. There is also a sheet on our site with directions on how to get to Sherburne from major cities and towns. The birds are still here in good numbers, but are beginning to leave, and more will do so over the next week or two. Most will be gone by early November. A lot depends on the weather - if you haven't come up to see the birds yet, come soon! They're still here - and quite a sight to see! Betsy Beneke Sherburne NWR
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