Sandhill Cranes at dusk preparing to land at Grassy Lake.
As of late the weather has been unseasonably warm and enjoyable. It’s late October, and though Halloween is right around the corner, I find myself having to conjure up images and feelings of past Halloweens to get in the spooky spirit of the season. What hasn’t changed, though, is the gathering of Sandhill Cranes around this time of year as they prepare for their annual migration.
This is the second-annual Grassy Lake Sandhill Crane Migration event, and boy did it not disappoint! Birders gathered along the edge of Grassy Lake, a small shallow lake adjacent to the much larger Gull Lake, in Richland Township. The habitat of this marshy inland lake lends itself well to supporting many hundreds of Sandhill Cranes as they gather in roosts for the night, as well as various other waterbirds seeking food and shelter.
During the daylight hours, the Sandhill Crane (SACR) feeds in nearby agricultural fields, often in pairs or small groups. When dusk approaches, they will congregate in areas suitable for rest. Since migration is underway, oftentimes these roosts can grow in size, upwards of thousands at a time in one small area.
SACR’s roost by standing in shallow water, which acts as a natural alarm system; any movement from a predator nearby will immediately wake the entire flock. Some cranes also stay awake and act as lookouts during the night, protecting the flock.
Before witnessing this fly-in, we had time to accommodate ourselves with our surroundings. We spent about an hour sauntering down the edge of the lake, looking for whatever else may be present. Excited onlookers spotted many interesting waterbirds, including various Great Egrets, Wood Ducks, Great-blue Herons, and three Wilson’s Snipe. Nearby we also spotted various woodpeckers, and a number of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Overlooking Grassy Lake on the evening of Sunday, October 25th.
A lone Wilson’s Snipe probing in the mud, as viewed from afar.
Birding from the edge of Grassy Lake. 📸 Lisa Batsell
After our stroll, it became time to post up and await the arrival of the cranes. Around 6:30pm, we had our first pair arrive, their loud, primal, dinosaur-like rattling calls echoing over the lake. And so it began.
For the next thirty minutes, we stood in silence and awe. It was as if time stood still. The event began with a joyous, excited, talkative tone, and suddenly transformed into silence. Though none of us spoke, we were being bonded in sharing the present moment with each other, watching as wave after wave after wave of cranes arrived, eventually settling down on the lake. We were in awe.
Sandhill Cranes flying over Grassy Lake. 📸 Lisa Batsell
Sandhill Crane birders 2026!
By about 7:00pm, the majority of cranes had landed, and the bugling calls were beginning to taper. The experience felt sacred to me, and others. These birds have been on this earth for at least 2.5 million years, and to be able to witness the beauty of their essence felt incredibly humbling. The power of the experience even brought one birder to tears, overcome with beauty.
It is the delight and awe experienced during moments like this that I continue to offer birding events on a regular basis. There is no substitute for time spent with the more-than-human Earth. Getting out into nature, being present in silence, is a simple and effective way to touch into the pulse of wild, and to remain curious. Our lives and the lives of others depend on it.
Thank you to everyone who attended, and thank you to John Brenneman and Steve Allen for assistance in scouting this year while I was out of town.
To view a full checklist of the birds we saw that night, check out the eBird checklist here.
You simply will not find a better pair of binoculars at this pricepoint!
These binoculars are excellent for birding, delivering hard-working, reliable optics, sharp resolution, enhanced contrast, and rugged durability.
Waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof, these will be the last pair of binoculars you’ll need to buy!
Each pair of binoculars comes with:
Binocular harness
Comfort neck strap
Tethered objective lens covers
Rainguard eyepiece cover
Lens cloth
Unlimited, unconditional, lifetime warranty
If you’re looking for a pair of binoculars that are ideal for those who wear glasses, and have more capability birding in low-light conditions, with upgraded glass, check out the Vortex Viper HD 8×42 Binoculars.
Birds with Seth is an official Vortex Optics dealer. You will not find a better price online, as these are sold at MAP (minimum advertised pricing). If you do find these binoculars listed for a lesser price, please contact me at seth@birdswithseth.com so that we adjust pricing accordingly.
Unless backordered, orders will dropship with FREE SHIPPING via directly from Vortex Optics, typically within 24 hours from date of purchase.
A must-have for birders of all ages!
Written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley, this guide details all 19 species, both common and rare, of owls found in North America. Each owl includes a short description, along with detailed range maps, and both in-flight and perched illustrations.
This guide also contains informative illustrations on owl behavior, including breeding, hunting, roosting, and nesting.
If you’re interested in taking a deeper look into the meaning of the Owl according to Native American teachings, check out these Animal Medicine Cards.
This field guide is very durable, waterproof, and measures 4”x9”.
A must-have for birders of all ages!
Written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley, this guide details 51 species of waterbirds - ducks, shorebirds, loons, grebes, swans, geese, gulls, terns, bitterns, herons, and egrets - both common and exotic- found in the Great Lakes region.
This guide includes captions which capture the gestalt of each species, both in-flight and perched illustrations, and season information.
This field guide is very durable, waterproof, and measures 4”x9”.
If you’re curious about what animals can teach you, or are seeking support from the natural world, this deck is for you!
Animal Medicine Cards have helped guide my journey, providing powerful insight and perspective around some of life’s questions. This deck has found its way into the hearts and hands of many, guiding the way to healing the body, emotions, mind, and spirit, and providing insight into and understand of one's unique purpose in life.
This unique and powerful divination system draws upon ancient wisdom and tradition to teach the healing medicine of animals through the lens of sacred Native American traditions. These teachings have been handed down from many elders in the Choctaw, Lakota, Seneca, Aztec, Yaqui, Cheyenne, Cherokee, Iroquois, and Mayan traditions.
This 52-card deck includes a 246 guidebook.
Created by Jamie Sams and David Carson, with illustrations by Angela C. Werneke.
