Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds that are found throughout Michigan. There are two main species of crane that live in or migrate through the state: the sandhill crane and the whooping crane.
Sandhill Crane
The sandhill crane is the most common species of crane found in Michigan. These large, gray-bodied birds can stand up to 4 feet tall and have a wingspan of up to 7 feet. Sandhill cranes live in open wetland habitats like marshes, wet meadows, river valleys, and agricultural fields. Most sandhill cranes that live in Michigan are part of the eastern population that breeds across the Great Lakes region and winters in the southeastern U.S. The eastern sandhill crane population has rebounded from near extinction in the 1930s to over 100,000 individuals today.
There are two distinct populations of sandhill cranes in Michigan:
- Migratory sandhill cranes – About 15,000-20,000 sandhill cranes migrate across Michigan each fall on their way to wintering grounds in the southeastern U.S. These cranes stage in large flocks in open agricultural areas to rest and feed during migration.
- Resident breeding sandhill cranes – Michigan has a small but growing population of sandhill cranes that nest and reside year-round in the state. These resident cranes now breed in the northern Lower Peninsula and eastern Upper Peninsula. Their numbers have increased from just a few pairs in the 1930s to over 2,000 today.
During summer, sandhill cranes nest in shallow wetlands, building large platform nests out of vegetation. They usually lay 1-3 eggs that hatch in late spring. Parents share incubation duties and both care for the young, called colts, which are able to leave the nest soon after hatching and feed themselves. In winter, sandhill cranes gather by the thousands at staging areas to feed agricultural fields, marshlands and other wetland habitats. They are omnivorous and feed on plants, seeds, berries, insects, snails, worms and small vertebrates.
Whooping Crane
The whooping crane is North America’s tallest bird, standing over 5 feet tall with a wingspan of 7.5 feet. These bright white cranes are a rare sight in Michigan, as only about 100-200 migrate through the state annually. Whooping cranes were once dangerously close to extinction but have rebounded to about 500 total individuals today. Most whooping cranes that pass through Michigan are part of the only self-sustaining wild population that breeds in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada and winters on the Gulf Coast of Texas.
In Michigan, whooping cranes are sporadically sighted during spring and fall migrations, most often in the western half of the Lower Peninsula. These cranes use various wetland habitats, such as marshes, swamps, lakes, ponds and agricultural fields, as stopover feeding sites during migration. A few confirmed sightings have also occurred in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Whooping cranes are distinctive in flight due to their bright white plumage, black wingtips and fully extended neck. Their calls are a loud, penetrating series of “whoop” notes. Though rare, whooping crane sightings generate excitement among Michigan birders when they do occur during migration seasons.
Crane Biology and Behavior
Cranes exhibit some unique behaviors and adaptations that aid their survival:
- Complex communication – Cranes have intricate body language and vocalizations used to communicate within family groups and flocks. Dances signify aggression or pair bonding while calls convey alarm, food begging by chicks, and contact between parents and young.
- Elaborate courtship displays – Breeding pairs perform synchronized displays involving bows, leaps, wing flapping and tossing sticks and grass. These displays strengthen the pair bond.
- Longevity – Cranes are long-lived, especially for birds. Lifespans in the wild can exceed 20 years. In captivity over 40 years is possible.
- Intelligence – Cranes have one of the highest encephalization quotients (a measure of intelligence) of any bird species. Their intelligence is thought to aid survival and complex social behaviors.
Cranes are also opportunistic and adaptable feeders. They are omnivorous, feeding on diverse plant and animal matter depending on habitat and season. Crops like corn, wheat, barley, and oats, as well as wild foods like berries, provide important energy and nutrients for migrating and wintering cranes in Michigan.
Status and Threats
Both crane species face a variety of threats, particularly loss of wetland stopover habitats during migration. However, organized conservation efforts have helped protect key sites and supported rebounds in crane populations:
- The sandhill crane eastern population has recovered from under 1,000 birds in the 1930s to over 100,000 today, thanks to wetland protection and restoration, hunting restrictions, and habitat programs on public and private lands. They were removed from the endangered species list in 2020.
- Whooping cranes remain endangered with only about 500 total individuals in their sole wild flock. Conservation efforts by governments, NGOs, and landowners are aimed at bolstering numbers by protecting breeding and wintering grounds, preserving migration stopover sites, managing key habitats, establishing additional wild flocks, and releasing captive-raised birds.
Threats to cranes include:
- Wetland habitat loss and degradation from agriculture, urban development and water control projects
- Collisions with power lines, fences and other structures
- Human disturbance of nesting areas and feeding habitats
- Shooting and hunting, though now limited by protective laws
- Climate change impacts on habitats and migration patterns
Crane Viewing in Michigan
Late autumn offers the best chance to see concentrations of migrating sandhill cranes in Michigan. Prime staging areas occur near the bases of the Lower and Upper peninsulas where the cranes congregate before crossing the Great Lakes. Here are some notable crane viewing sites:
- Houghton Lake – Upwards of 10,000 sandhill cranes stopover near this inland lake in Roscommon County during October.
- Waterloo Recreation Area – Sandhill cranes pause by the thousands at this wetland complex in the southern Lower Peninsula’s Jackson County in October-November.
- Manistee National Forest – Both sandhill and whooping cranes may be seen foraging in meadows and marshes within this northern Lower Peninsula forest during September-October.
- Seney National Wildlife Refuge – Sandhill cranes use the expansive wetlands of this Upper Peninsula NWR east of Manistique as feeding grounds during fall migration.
- Keweenaw Peninsula – Small numbers of whooping cranes are sometimes reported in this far northeastern Upper Peninsula spot protruding into Lake Superior during the fall.
Spring migration also brings opportunities to see cranes, though in smaller numbers than fall. Breeding sandhill cranes at nesting areas in the northern Lower Peninsula and eastern Upper Peninsula are also viewable during summer months. Seeing a rare whooping crane anywhere in Michigan creates excitement, though most sightings are brief as these birds are just passing through. Patience, timing and scoping good crane habitats increase the chances of sighting these majestic migratory birds.
Conclusion
The sandhill crane and whooping crane are amazing birds that utilize Michigan’s diverse wetland habitats during their epic migrations across North America. Conservation efforts have allowed certain crane populations to rebound after endangerment, but continued habitat protection and management is needed to ensure the future survival of these species. Witnessing thousands of sandhill cranes or a lone whooping crane feeding in an open Michigan marsh will create a memorable experience for any nature lover or birdwatcher.
