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Sandhill Cranes in the midst of migration through the county
The familiar sights and sounds of Sandhill Cranes moving through the western Greene County area in the past week is a good sign for the upcoming first-ever Marsh Madness bird festival set for March 5-6.
The annual northward migration of Sandhills Cranes has begun locally.
Area birding authority Bloomington resident Lee Sterrenberg, of the Sassafras Audubon Society, says Sandhills should start arriving in increasing numbers as soon as there is a significant thaw.
"Sandhills will keep pressing north as much as they can, and as soon as weather breaks and permits movement," he said. "Goose Pond FWA has now become the major Sandhill Crane spring staging area in far western Indiana. Lots of them should be here while awaiting snow melt and thaw on their breeding grounds much further north in Wisconsin, Michigan, and southern Canada. Thawing and arrival of Sandhills is promising and bodes well for having Sandhills in time for Marsh Madness the first weekend in March.
"Keep an ear and an eye open for Sandhills during the next two weeks."
Sandhill Cranes fly with necks outstretched and their wings flap downward followed by a quick upstroke. They can be heard from long distances away, making a clacketty-clack and bugling call.
The birds congregate in huge numbers during migration to summer breeding areas in the northern states and Canada. They've been spending the winter months in the warmer climates of Florida, Texas, southern California , Arizona, and New Mexico.
Thursday morning, hundreds were visible off Baseline Road and behind the Linton Walmart Super Center off of County Road 1000W.
Sterrenberg said the Sandhills are easy to observe, even for the novice birder.
"The typical pattern of behavior for Sandhill Cranes is to feed out the adjacent or nearby agricultural fields during the daytime and to roost inside the Goose Pond FWA wetlands at night. Sandhills also do some feeding and daytime resting inside the wetlands," Sterrenberg said. "Sandhills do know where the GPFWA wetlands are and how to find them. The restored wetlands in conjunction with nearby agricultural fields for foraging are the major reason Sandhills are here in such numbers."
Brad Feaster, Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area property manager, says the upcoming Marsh Madness festival is a prime chance for the area to showcase what the area has to offer in terms of nature tourism.
"I think Greene County is well positioned to start to realize some of the economic benefits that nature tourism can bring to an area. Bringing tourists into Greene County was the impetus of the upcoming Marsh Madness bird festival. Marsh Madness is a community-based event designed to showcase Greene County's natural areas and to increase people's awareness of and appreciation for these natural resources. I am thrilled by the number of individuals and organizations who are working hard to ensure that this festival is a success," he said.
Restoration work is progressing on the 5,900 acres Goose Pond project as well as an additional 1,200 acres a few miles to the east known as Beehunter Marsh. The project is part of an easement agreement signed in 2000 between the federal government and Florida developer/farmer Maurice Wilder. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources purchased the Goose Pond/Beehunter Marsh area from Wilder in 2004.
For more information on Marsh Madness, go to www.marshmadness.info .