Sandhill Cranes migrating through Douglas Lake Plateau grasslands – April 2013

On Sunday 21 April members of the Nicola Naturalist Society visited the Douglas Lake area in search of migrating Sandhill Cranes. We were not disappointed and encountered at least 2,300 cranes on the ground, taking off or circling in the air before continuing northward. The sight and sound of several thousand cranes all around was simply magical. We also saw a group of 6 American White Pelicans passing high overhead, heading north in the company of small flocks of cranes. Here is a photo showing just part of Sunday’s crane mass.

Flocks of migrating Sandhill Cranes taking off near English Bridge on the Douglas Lake Ranch, 21 April 2013. Photo: © Julie Van Koll - Merritt Pro Photo

Flocks of migrating Sandhill Cranes taking off near English Bridge on the Douglas Lake Ranch, 21 April 2013. Photo: © Julie Van Koll – Merritt Pro Photo

How many cranes are in this photo above?  Make an estimate and then keep reading to the bottom of this posting to see the answer.

Part of a flock of 580 Sandhill Cranes foraging at Douglas Lake Ranch, 21 April 2013.  Photo: © Alan Burger

Part of a flock of 580 Sandhill Cranes foraging at Douglas Lake Ranch, 21 April 2013. Photo: © Alan Burger

Sandhill Cranes (both Lesser and Greater forms of the species) at Douglas Lake Ranch, 21 April 2013.  Photo: © Bob Scafe.

Sandhill Cranes (both Lesser and Greater forms of the species) at Douglas Lake Ranch, 21 April 2013. Photo: © Bob Scafe.

Here is the complete list of birds we recorded – 45 species in total. These counts have been added to e-Bird as part of the Nicola Naturalists’ monitoring of the Douglas Lake Plateau Important Bird Area.

Greater White-fronted Goose  22  –   flock of 22 on Douglas Lake
Canada Goose  103
Gadwall  1
American Wigeon  28
Mallard  40
Northern Shoveler  44
Northern Pintail  20
Green-winged Teal  12
Redhead  6
Ring-necked Duck  36
Lesser Scaup  260
Bufflehead  110
Barrow’s Goldeneye  2
Ruddy Duck  10
Common Loon  5
American White Pelican  6     Flock of 6 flying high and heading north
Turkey Vulture  6
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  4
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  6
Red-tailed Hawk  7
Rough-legged Hawk  1     4 separate bird seen at different locations
American Coot  50
Sandhill Crane  2300     Seen near Englishman Bridge.
Great Horned Owl  1
Northern Flicker  1
American Kestrel  21
Northern Shrike  3
Black-billed Magpie  15
American Crow  18
Common Raven  3
Tree Swallow  80
Violet-green Swallow  1
Marsh Wren  2
Mountain Bluebird  268     Flock of 200 in one area and many others elsewhere
American Robin  95
European Starling  50
Yellow-rumped Warbler  5
Song Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  26
Red-winged Blackbird  50
Western Meadowlark  18
Yellow-headed Blackbird  1
Brewer’s Blackbird  50

How many Sandhill Cranes were in the photo? To make the counting easier lines were drawn around birds and the photo was enlarged in Photoshop.

How did your estimate compare with the photo count?

Sandhill Crne flocks marked out to make the counting easier - 592 in total. Photo: ©Julie Van Koll - Merritt Pro Photo

Sandhill Crane flocks marked out to make the counting easier – 592 in total. Photo: ©Julie Van Koll – Merritt Pro Photo

We will be having more outings to the Douglas Lake Plateau grasslands as part of our IBA monitoring – watch your e-mails.

 

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