You might wonder why when you go into stores in Chelsea such as Mike’s Deli there are Sandhill Crane statues.  You might also hear some really pre-historic, dinosaur-sounding bird cackling while you’re traversing the local woods.  

That’s because this area is a prime spot to find Sandhill Cranes, especially in October while the migration south is commencing.  These striking birds are one of the oldest bird species and have been around for at least 2 million years.  They stand about 4 feet tall and boast a wingspan that stretches up to 6 feet. In addition to their distinctive height, the sandhill crane sports a recognizable red crown that contrasts with their rust or grey plumage—making them an unmistakable species.  

Their most famous behavior is their dancing courtship ritual.  They produce a variety of calls of differing intensity and volume that are used in different social contexts. The calls range from a piercing rattle that can be heard from four kilometers away to low purrs that only carry a few meters.

Their local story is told best by Tom Hodgson and the Waterloo Natural History Association:  “Jackson and Washtenaw Counties still have the largest nesting concentration of sandhills. And in the fall when cranes from all over the state descend on southern Michigan, about 10,000 of those end up in these two counties. To fatten up before migration, they spend October and part of November feeding on waste grain and insects in area farm fields… At night, they roost in area marshes. The Haehnle Audubon Sanctuary on Seymour Road in Jackson County is the largest roosting area.”