As my husband and I drove along Highway 97 north on Saturday, Sept. 21, we were treated to the sight of hundreds of Sandhill Cranes in fields just south of Kersley about 20 minutes from Quesnel.
We pulled over.
I snapped a few photographs and made a raw video from the outside of fences in two different locations.
When I contacted the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development I was told of the three subspecies of Sandhill Cranes in B.C., it is the Greater Sandhill Crane that breeds in much of the Interior, including the Cariboo-Chilcotin area.
“The Lesser Sandhill Cranes occur in large flocks and are seen during spring and fall migration,” the spokesperson said. “The Canadian Sandhill Crane breeds on the coast and possibly in the Central Interior and Northwest. Currently, DNA research is being conducted to determine where this subspecies overlaps in the Interior.”
People who have called this region home for several years have probably already seen the Sandhill Cranes in large numbers before, but up until last Saturday, I’d never seen more than a few at one time.
Read more: Sandhill cranes in flight over Alexis Creek
The ministry said spring migration occurs mid-April to mid-May and fall migration is in late September to early October.
“The central flyway fall migration starts in southeast Alaska and travels through the Smithers, Williams Lake, Kamloops and Okanagan areas,” the ministry spokesperson commented, adding during migration they use large open areas such as agricultural lands, meadows, and lake areas.”
Sandhill Crane clutch size varies from one to three eggs, however most have two, while broods range from one to two young, although most end up with one.
Some studies have shown that the Sandhill Crane pairs exhibit a connection to their nesting area and will consistently return year after year.
In the Interior, nesting habitat includes marshes, swamps, and wetlands. These nesting habitats are usually surrounded by trees, in a secluded area and their diet consists of both animal – mostly invertebrates - and plant foods.
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