I'm Just Here for the Bird: Road Tripping and the Lost Whooping Crane

I finally hit the road. I had both physical and mental health issues early in April when Iwas supposed to travel for work to Michigan and New Hampshire, but I was finally able to go birding outside Ontario for the first time since returning from Florida. The best part was, when I arrived in Michigan, I read on eBird that a Whooping Crane was spotted only half an hour from where I was staying and I headed straight there before even checking into my hotel.

I got to Losco Rd in Webbersville Michigan early on the morning of June 21, only to find lots of empty farmer’s fields, filled with tall, yellow grass, a small number of Sandhill Cranes, but no Whooping Crane. I was fortunate to meet a couple of locals who gave me advice on where the Whooping Crane had been seen over the previous 24 hours, and over the course of the morning searched many fields without success. Later in the morning other birders showed up and as we were chatting, looking into the field where the Sandhill Cranes were hanging out, the Whooping Crane flew in from parts unknown, and landed about 400 yards away. There are never any guarantees when you chase rare birds so it was exciting to see it fly in with other birders around. A couple who had come and left earlier, also returned and got to see the bird.

The other cool bird I saw while on the trip were Dickcissels. I saw them reported on eBird and went to the MSU Inland Lakes Research and Study Area to investigate. I got luck in that it is a restricted access area, but the woman who has the key was there and, along with the couple she was escorting, guided me to the spot where the Dickcissels were nesting and we got great, close-up views.

I finished the trip in New Hampshire where I visited a nice variety of birding locals, with names like Horse Hill Nature Preserve, Wildcat Falls Conservation Area and Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary. Saw some lovely birds, nothing rare, but the scenery was the star at those stops.