Crane Videos

Kachemak Crane Watch

This 10 minute video about Kachemak Crane Watch provides information about Lesser Sandhill Cranes in the Kachemak Bay area near Homer, Alaska. The sandhill crane population in this area is estimated to be only about 200 individuals. It discusses the dangers facing this small population--bald eagle and other predation, loss of habitat, and hunting. A desire to help people learn more about these ancient birds precipitated the making of this video.

Homer's Ten--Satellite Banding of Lesser Sandhill Cranes

Where do they roost? Where do they spend their winters? Which route do they take traveling between Homer, Alaska and the mainland U.S.? Do they all go to the same place? No one knew the answers to these questions so in August, 2008, with a grant from Kachemak Crane Watch and in cooperation with the International Crane Foundation, researcher Gary Ivey and his field assistant, Caroline Herzinger, captured 10 Lesser Sandhill Cranes in Homer and fitted them with radio and satellite transmitters. Now their migration routes are online for all to learn from at http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/cranes/index.html.

Cranes of the Pacific Flyway

A satellite banding project of Lesser Sandhill Cranes brought crane researcher, Gary Ivey, to Homer, Alaska where he spoke to an audience of more than 100 at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge's Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center about his research and the life history of cranes. Information about these ancient birds is fascinating, especially for Craniacs!

B.C. rainforest wildlife captured in true form

A B.C. wildlife photographer has set up a video camera to capture footage of nesting Sandhill Cranes. Gary Ivey, an Oregon-based wildlife biologist with the International Crane Foundation, said the central coast camera project is like no other anywhere west of the Rocky Mountains, and there is enormous potential to learn valuable science from it. And for a population as fragile as that of the westcoast sandhill crane which is thought to number no more than 4,000 in the whole world, the more scientists know and understand, the better.

Crane Family

"Lesser Sandhill Crane pairs usually have one or two young annually. These young are called colts and are distinguished from the adults by their light golden color, lack of red on the head, black eyes, and fleshy colored beak. Adults have beautiful yellow eyes and dark grey beaks."

Swimming Crane

"Lesser Sandhill Cranes are rarely seen swimming in Homer, Alaska. This crane was trying to lead his family around the small island and was calling them with a low croaking sound. They eventually joined him."