For the last couple of days, Sandhill Cranes have been migrating north and flying over Edmonton. The flocks are so large there must be thousands in each of them.
I don’t have the right equipment to get a photo because they fly so high up in the sky and far beyond the capability of my camera. Fortunately, others have been able to take some pictures that I have included here.
The birds fill so much of the sky that photographs cannot do justice to the scene. Imagine turning your head to your far left and then turning to look to your far right and seeing cranes in the entire view of the sky.
Also, the sound they make is very distinctive. Even though they are so far aloft, collectively they make a very loud noise. It’s a bit like the sound of geese, but different. You can hear them on the website for the National Parks Service Natural Sounds.
Here is a map of the migration route provided by allaboutbirds.org.
Snowbird of Paradise 
Wish I were there to see it.
I was so excited when I saw them! I’m hoping there will be another fly-past today.
Where are they coming from, as in where do they spend the winter months? And, how far north do they now go? What a wondrous sight. I must admit that “sandhill”somehow sounds rather beach-like! Thank you Anne.
I don’t know, but I should find out. When I was looking for photos on one website it said that they are going to Siberia but that seems like a cold place to go to breed!
Well, consider emperor Penguins…talk about cold!!! ;}
I just added a migration route map to the post.
The Map is fascinating! What a territory they cover. And I had never seen a sandhill crane before this! Really learned a lot thus far today!
It is incredible, isn’t it?
To quote some lyrics to a song from a long time ago: “What a wonderful world”.
I think I saw some snow geese flying overhead one day. Sounded a bit like Canada Geese, but they were almost pure white. Nice to see.
I heard these cranes before I saw them. There is a thread on NextDoor with the heading “What’s That Noise?” and it is about this migration.
It please me greatly that these beauties get everyone in neighbourhood out of their houses and looking up! It’s always such a gift to watch them fly by ❤
It’s a surprise and a delight. I wonder if there are more to come or if those two days were all I can expect.
It’s always too short lived for my liking 🙂
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My mom lived in the little strip in Nebraska on your migrating map that is labeled a “key stopover site”. The kids and I used to visit her on our Spring Break, and we would drive down the road to see the sandhill cranes feed in the morning, or to the river in the evening to watch them return. It is an amazing sight, and the sounds they make are unique and fun to hear. My mom died 11 years ago and I haven’t returned to that spot since. Maybe when we are traveling again….
I hope your trip down memory lane was a pleasant one. I’m sorry to hear of your mom’s passing, but the memories you have of that place sound delightful.
Oh yes, very pleasant. Thanks.
I lived in Edmonton for 2.5 years and never witnessed such sight! Oh how I miss the city. Loved your blog btw, I just hit follow!
I moved to Edmonton in 2014 and really like the community. In normal circumstances I would be enjoying all the festivals and family-friendly events.
Thank you for following my blog. It means a lot to me that you and so many others hit that “follow” button.
I have pics of them on may 3, 2020, 2021 and 2023 in north central Edmonton
How wonderful! Well done.