The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is inviting people to come to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area (JP) in Medaryville to watch the eastern population of the Greater Sandhill Crane migrate south.

Photo by DNR

Thousands of these birds will pass through property from Michigan, Wisconsin and southern Canada. More than 3,800 sandhill cranes were seen dancing, socializing and flying this past week.

At their peak, almost 30,000 cranes can be seen on a weekly basis.

DNR staff at Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area make weekly crane counts during peak fall migration (October – December). The count is typically performed each Tuesday unless impeded by inclement weather. If unable to count on a Tuesday, the staff will try again on Thursday of that week.

The counts generally end the last week of December.