IN.gov - Skip Navigation

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.

Fish & Wildlife > Hunting & Trapping > Properties > Jasper-Pulaski > Sandhill Cranes During Their Fall Migration Sandhill Cranes During Their Fall Migration

 

 

 

See one of Indiana's greatest wildlife spectacles at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. Each fall, tens of thousands of sandhill cranes visit J-P's shallow marshes.

 

Click on image to see video

 

Best days
Greater sandhill cranes can be seen at J-P from late September through December. Crane numbers peak in mid-November.

Best bet -- magnificent, noisy flocks are usually seen at the northern Indiana property from mid-October through mid-December.

Best times
Sunrise - Gigantic flocks rise and fly out of roosting marshes to Goose Pasture. The cranes socialize in the pasture for awhile before flying out to feed in surrounding private land (agricultural fields).

Sunset - Beginning about one hour before sunset, flocks of cranes kite into Goose Pasture from all directions. They gab and socialize again before returning to roosting marshes at dusk.

Best place
The crane spectacle is best seen at the Goose Pasture Viewing Area (see map). Roosting marshes are closed to the public. During the day, cranes can be spotted feeding and dancing in nearby harvested farm fields.

Sandhill Crane Count

1/8/13: 624 cranes counted. (This will be the last count of the season)

Previous Counts:

1/2/13: 13,371 cranes counted. Cranes were roosting on the ice in the center of the property.
12/26/12: 16,645 sandhill cranes and 1 whooping crane counted.
12/18/12: 22,669 sandhill cranes and 1 whooping crane counted.
12/11/2012: 25,512 cranes counted.
12/4/2012: 21,133 cranes counted. 
11/27/2012: 28,126 cranes counted
11/20/12: 10,513 cranes counted.
11/13/12: 10,147 cranes counted
10/30/12: 9,602 cranes counted.
10/23/12: 8,280 cranes counted (visibility low)
10/16/2012: 8,086 cranes counted
10/9/2012: 6,424 cranes counted
10/2/2012: The crane count was 4,711. The first cranes arrived on Sept. 14th. Cranes should continue to come into JP and numbers will peak in late November or early December.

Click to subscribe to updates of this page

For additional information on the whooping cranes see the following Web sites:

Stay Connected

You are leaving the IN.gov website. By clicking OK, you will be taken to a website that is not affiliated with the State of Indiana and may have different privacy and security policies. The State of Indiana is not responsible for, and does not endorse, guarantee, or monitor content, availability, viewpoints, products, or services that are offered or expressed on this non IN.gov portal website.

Indiana Outdoor - Buy hunting and fishing licenses