Monthly Archives: August 2015

2015 Count Days–Citizen Science Effort Needs Your Help!

How many Sandhill Cranes make the Homer area their home during the breeding season?  Kachemak Crane Watch continues collecting data to monitor the numbers of local Lesser Sandhill Cranes.

“We keep track of Sandhill Cranes from Anchor Point south to the head of Kachemak Bay,” noted Nina Faust of Kachemak Crane Watch.

Kachemak Crane Watch is asking Homer residents and visitors to monitor the number of Sandhill Cranes being seen this summer.  Anytime on three designated days: : August 27, September 2, and September 8 between 6:00 am – 11:00 pm observers can report the following information:

* Number of cranes:  how many of each–adults, colts, and cranes marked with transmitters
* Date and Time
* Specific Location

Please leave your name and phone number for more details so Kachemak Crane Watch can contact you if needed.

“While this effort will not give us a precise number of cranes around Kachemak Bay, it will provide an estimated population count,” said Nina Faust, Kachemak Crane Watch co-founder.   “This is a chance for local residents to become citizen scientists, and also to more closely observe the cranes.  Observers will likely spot some of the family groups now that they have joined the larger flocks and are preparing for migration,” Faust noted.

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Sandhill Cranes usually leave the Homer area around mid-September to migrate to their wintering grounds in California’s Sacramento Valley.

Submit your data reports@cranewatch.org or by calling 235-6262.  
For more information contact: Nina Faust at 235-6262.

Click on the link below to download a Count Day form:

Count Day Report Form 2015

The Flocks are Restless

We are past mid-summer, and the non-breeding flocks are moving around more.  Watch for them around the Homer area.  The colts are fledging, and very soon families will join the non-breeding flocks.  If you see families with colts among these flocks, please let Kachemak IMG_6845Crane Watch know where you saw them, when, how many colts, and if you can distinguish them, how many families.  Send your report to reports@cranewatch.org or call 235-6262.  Be sure to leave a name and number in case we need further information.

Meanwhile, check out our latest video, “Flock Behavior,” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUOKB7bBxQo.