Fall Sandhill Crane Survey

The US Fish & Wildlife Services Division of Migratory Birds has once again asked Pennsylvania to participate in the Fall Sandhill Crane Survey.  This year the survey will be conducted on October 30. If October 30 is not possible, then the survey should fall within the period Oct. 30 – Nov. 3

Experienced birders are invited to join this statewide monitoring effort. Counts are best conducted within 30 minutes after sunrise or 30 minutes before sunset. If dawn/dusk surveys are not possible, cranes can be tallied during the day as they forage in small groups. Background info, protocol and data sheet are available on the PGC website on the PGC Birding and Bird Conservation page. PGC Birding and Bird Conservation page.

Survey sheets can be printed from the web page and mailed to the address provided. Online reporting is also available via the website. Thanks for your help in making others aware of this effort, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

166 cranes were observed in the November 2016 survey. This is 15 more cranes than observed in 2015, 40 more than that of 2014, and 68 more than in 2013.  This is further evidence that the sandhill crane population is continuing to expand in PA. Cranes were observed in seven counties: Bradford, Crawford, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Mercer, Sullivan and Wyoming.