UWSP Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society

TWS (National)

TWS Projects

Crane Count

Grus canadensis

Once every fall and every spring, the call goes out across the UWSP campus- the call for Crane counters!

The Crane Count project is a twice a year census of the sandhill crane population in Wisconsin. The fall count, done in coordination with USFWS, occurs in October when the birds are staging before their migration south.

The spring count takes place in late April after the cranes have returned north, paired up, and have chosen nesting sites. It is done in conjunction with the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI.

Before each count, information meetings are held, where data sheets and maps of previously used staging or nesting areas are handed out. Volunteer counters sign up for a site; some drive, others without cars ride along. On the chosen Saturday, counters reach their sites before sun-up and count the cranes spotted and heard with the upcoming sun. When the sun is high in the sky, and crane activity has ceased, it is the counters' turn to gather: to turn in data sheets, to munch doughnuts and sip cider, to share adventures of the morning, and to look ahead six months and anticipate the next call for the sandhills.

Spring 2007 Crane Count

The 32nd Annual Crane Count will be April 14th, 2007. If you have any questions or would like to participate in the count in Portage County contact:  
Ginamaria Javurek (gjavu971@uwsp.edu)
Portage County Coordinator

2004 Results Last fall there were 69 cranes counted here in portage county, from 13 sites. 37 Individuals spent 2 hours of their morning counting cranes. With the help of people all across Wisconin a total of 12,779 Cranes were counted by 2,647 people. Throughout the midwest 13,580 Cranes were counted by 3,016 people. Thanks to everyone that helped.

2003 Results Durring the fall migration of sandhills there were 18,039 cranes counted throughout the midwest by 2,870 volunteers.

Contact the Project Leaders

 

 

 

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