Pair #416 and #904 made a migration stopover on a newly restored floodplain on the Illinois River in March. Landowners Mark and Julie saw their departure. "What a bittersweet moment to watch them leave. They seemed to be heading north. We returned a couple hours later and no sign of them. Wondering if they may be among the first pairs back at Necedah this Spring." Mark took this picture with the help of a spotting scope. Have these cranes reached the finish line?

Image: Mark Crowley