Date: 04/02/2009

Number: 1

Although we have seen flocks of Sandhill cranes, this flock was white and surpisingly large, estimate around 50. I heard them in the distance and they swirled right over my home. The winds were very strong, post a heavy snow storm, so they moved rapidly.

Editor's Note: There are two clues that these birds were not whooping cranes: 1) Whooping cranes migrate in small family groups typically no larger than a half dozen birds. 2) Another clue is the 50 birds. There are only 250 in total in the western flock and few are migrating yet. See this graph:

wessington Springs, SD

Latitude: 44.1 Longitude: -98.7

Observed by: Emily
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