Bundled up against the cold, counting cranes

Tom Funke enjoying the count

A magical sunset

Sandhill cranes coming in

Purple sky with cranes

Here come some more

Whoa!

Landing formation

Last night turned out to be a magical evening. I spent it counting sandhill cranes, having joined Michigan Audubon’s conservation director Tom Funke for the annual statewide crane count. What began as a typical grey Michigan afternoon with high winds, turned into an evening of explosive color, with cranes literally floating in the sky as they soared in looking for a place to land.

All photos copyright © Howard Meyerson 2012