Date:         Wed, 13 Feb 2002 12:37:08 EST
Reply-To:     VLDELOACH@AOL.COM
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Vicki DeLoach <VLDELOACH@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Sandhill Cranes Migration question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In answer to Stacy's question:

I recently learned from Dr. David Aborn, who is studying cranes at UT
Chattanooga, that it's not unusual for cranes to be heard migrating at night.
 (This would explain, e.g., cranes that pass through Atlanta so late in the
day that they can't possibly make it to S. Ga. by dark.  We have heard cranes
fly over Sweat Mtn. at night - once in December '92.)

Now that I'm on my favorite birding subject, here's something I learned from
Dr. Aborn that's even more interesting.  I was curious about reports of
cranes west of us and I asked him if there was by any chance an alternate,
more westward flyway (for the eastern flock).  He responded that he has
information from the International Crane Foundation that there is a group of
cranes now migrating from the Great Lakes region to Louisiana!  He says that
it's a recent phenomenon and not much is yet known about them.

Anyone interested in cranes might check out Sibley's "Guide to Bird Life &
Behavior".  He talks about them "gliding up to 500 miles in nine or ten
hours", and reports of cranes as high as 12,000 feet!

Vicki DeLoach
NE Cobb