Kachemak Crane Wat
ch continues to track nesting pairs of Sandhill Cranes. Each spring and fall we solicit calls from volunteer observers to learn when the cranes arrive and depart, where they are nesting, predation on or deaths of cranes, unusual behavior, population size, and injured cranes in need of help. We depend on observers to help us gather information and monitor the health of our unique, local population.
Nesting Survey Needs Citizen Scientists
Between late April and mid May, Homer area Sandhill Cranes return to their breeding grounds. Sandhill Cranes are territorial and will return to the same general nesting location as the previous year. Once the cranes return, please report the following information to Kachemak Crane Watch so we can determine the nest and fledgling success rate for the year.
What to Report:
- How many cranes you observed;
- Where and when you saw them – the date and coordinates (lat and long, if available) or specific place name;
- What they were doing, including any territorial behavior that might indicate a nest or young nearby;
- Number of young, if any; and
- What kind of habitat they were in: e.g. beach, slough, wetland, forest, road, estuary, upland grasslands, islands.
Please approach them carefully, they are very sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season.
Population Survey Needs Citizen Scientists
Help us count the number of Sandhill Cranes in the Homer area(Anchor Point south) on August 29, September 2, and September 6th each year. The more sightings we receive, the more accurate our estimate of the local Homer Sandhill Crane population.
What to Report:
- Number of cranes observed (# of adults, # of colts, # of cranes with transmitter, and the number of the transmitter)
- Location
- Date
- Time of Day
To report your observations or for more information:
- Send an email to reports@cranewatch.org, or
- Call 907-235-6262.