Date: 03/11/2006

Number: 1

Between 9:15 am and 12:45 pm on March 11, 2006, a major movement of several thousand Sandhill Cranes passed over Poplar Creek Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Continual waves of 10 to several hundred birds passed over. At 11:40 am in a group of about 30 birds slowly circling to gain altitude, Lee Ramsey spotted an all white bird with black wing tips, a Whooping Crane; I confirmed it. Many others who were participating in a restoration work day at this site also observed the crane.

The clouds were low which kept the birds quite visible and identifiable to the naked eye. There were occasional sprinkles early which dissipated about 10 am. I estimated their altitude at 500 feet or so. The temperature was in the 50's. Ground level breeze was gentle from the south; the skeins were flying from southeast to northwest. 9:15 am is quite early for such movement in this area. My home is almost directly under the flyway; since 1980 Sandhill normally pass over between 11:30 am and 2

Hoffman Estates, IL

Latitude: 42.1 Longitude: -88

Observed by:
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.