Lesser Sandhill Crane Migration--California to Alaska

Lesser Sandhill Crane Migration--Alaska to California

Follow “Homer’s Ten” on their return to Homer, Alaska

Ten Lesser Sandhill Cranes were tagged with a satellite GPS transmitter and a radio tracking device to allow researchers to gather more information to help protect habitat for these ancient birds.  The satellite devices transmit GPS data to a USGS website where the public can access the cranes' movements through next summer using Google Earth.  This technology provides a good platform for teachers to teach students about Sandhill Crane migrations, wintering movements, and summer nesting and foraging patterns.  This project is funded by Homer’s Kachemak Crane Watch in cooperation with the International Crane Foundation. 

The cranes will leave their wintering area in California between February 15 and March 1 and will arrive in Homer around mid-April.  They will travel north through Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, then follow coastal Alaska to the Kenai Peninsula, and finally arrive in the Homer, Alaska area.  Hopefully, the transmitter batteries will last long enough to provide data into the nesting season.  The transmitters will begin sending information every third day starting February 15.

Maps and access to the Google Earth information is found at http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/cranes/maps.html.  Additiional information about the Homer birds can be found at http://www.cranewatch.org.  In the winter, the cranes spend time in central California near Lodi.  One special area is the Nature Conservancy’s Cosumnes River Preserve, http://www.cosumnes.org.  Additional information is available at the International Crane Foundation’s website:  http://www.savingcranes.org.

For additional information, contact Kachemak Crane Watch at reports@cranewatch.org.