Sandhill Cranes - Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, TN

[jckegley]

Not an photo winner by any means, but I thought interesting enough to show. I took this a couple of weeks ago.

Hiwasse Wildlife Refuge (a state refuge) is located about 25 miles north of Chattanooga TN. Most of the refuge is located where the Hiwassee River enters into the Tennessee River.

Every year about 10,000 - 20,000 Sandhill Cranes from Wisconsin and Canada migrate through the area on the way to Georgia and Florida. Although I think many are staying all winter at the refuge now. The refuge grows corn to feed the cranes.

Last year there was a Whooping Crane in the mix of Sandhills at the refuge when I was there.

[Steve_E]

Beautiful capture joe, the trio really pop from the background and very crisp. Thanks for the info too.

Looks like you were perched on a hillside?

Great work.

[Rubberhead]

Great shot.

I hope this isn't a hijack but here's some Sandhills from South Carolina (we don't get them often).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/2207088579_aedc2dba89_b.jpg

[Steve_E]

Thanks for that RH. A couple of years ago a single bird was hanging out in my neighbors back yard for about 10 days. I was calling around to see if any of the local zoos had lost one but nobody had. I thought it was strange seeing one here in Murrells Inlet.

[jckegley]

Looks like you were perched on a hillside?


Yep on a hill side. The refuge is pretty much closed from Nov thru March 1st just for the cranes, with only an observation platform open to the public.

Not really a good spot for photography and I would never suggest anyone drive there to photograph the cranes unless you happened to already be in the area. My relatives live about 80 miles away in the Knoxville area, so I go there during Thanksgiving.

The refuge also has a fair number of Bald Eagles during the winter. I see them every year, fun to watch them dive down and see the pintails scatter (at least I think they are pintails).

[Rubberhead]

Thanks for that RH. A couple of years ago a single bird was hanging out in my neighbors back yard for about 10 days. I was calling around to see if any of the local zoos had lost one but nobody had. I thought it was strange seeing one here in the Murrells Inlet.

I see and hear them along with coastal areas about every other year or so. Usually it's a flock of 20 or so.

[rkemmerlin]

Joe,

I like it, much different than those shots you see from Bosque or FL. I didn't know they had been seen in SC on any regular basis.

[Idlewild]

Great shots all around.

[Squatty]

Joe, that is a hell of a shot!

Robert, they do show up here each year in very limited numbers. You've got to know where to look but even if you do it's hard getting access :(

[dddenton]

Very nice, super sharp. Love the composition with the three together coming in. The birds in the background add a nice touch. You know where these three are headed.