Annual Sandhill Crane Count for Baker Sanctuary
October 28, 2023 @ 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Would you like to witness the wonder of Sandhill Crane migration? Join Michigan Audubon for our Fall Sandhill Crane Survey of Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary on October 28!
The count will be conducted from the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area overlooking Big Marsh Lake in Bellevue from 4:30 p.m. to dusk. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and grab your binoculars to watch as potentially thousands of cranes come in to roost for the night. In 2022, 3,672 Sandhill Cranes were counted by volunteer Josh Haas and Michigan Audubon staff.
This event is part of the annual standardized count of the eastern population of Sandhill Cranes that is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Since its onset in 1979, eight states and one province have participated, and the population has grown to more than 90,000 cranes.
The Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area is located at 22300 15 Mile Rd., Bellevue, MI 49021.
If you have any questions, please email events@michiganaudubon.org.
In the event of inclement weather, the crane count will be held on October 29.
