Sandhill cranes in Stillwater County provide sweeping glimpse of exotic birdlife as they grace us for a time

A trio of sandhill cranes steps lightly across a field near Fishtail, Montana, between recent rain storms.

MIGRATING Sanhill cranes THRILL ROAD-TRIPPERS AS THEY SWOOP DOWN FOR A STAY BY FISHTAIL

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

"The Carpe Diem Kids"

Nestled beneath Montana's endless skies, Stillwater County is a place where nature sets the pace. Each spring and fall, the haunting, trumpet-like calls of sandhill cranes echo across the valleys and wetlands as thousands of these majestic birds stop during their seasonal migration. Combined with breathtaking mountain views, winding country roads, and abundant wildlife, Stillwater County is a destination that rewards travelers seeking authentic outdoor experiences away from the crowds.

The sandhill crane takes its name from Nebraska's Sandhills. 

THERE MAY be no more spectacular sight than the unexpected view of a glorious flock of sandhill cranes putting down in a wheat field -- or taking off!

Sandhill cranes in Stillwater County have been visiting near us lately (south-central Montana, about a half-hour from Red Lodge and a few miles north of Nye.)  This lovely bird is known in North America and even as far as extreme northeastern Siberia.

THE COMMON name of this uncommon bird -- a bit like a Las Vegas showgirl --  refers to habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills on the American Plains. But this large and beautiful crane also passes through Montana, spends time to nest, reproduce, raise its young and feed, then takes off again.

Cranes can be seen in many places, including in our neck of the woods in the Northern Rockies.

Finding sandhill cranes in Stillwater County and beyond

Found in several scattered areas of North America, sandhill cranes reach their peak abundance at migratory stopover points on the Great Plains. There, they can be seen by the hundreds. They are best found in open, shallow wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, and adjacent agricultural fields. Their chosen topography is flat to gently rolling terrain, ranging from northern tundras and bogs to flat river basins, farmlands, and grassy plains. We often

see them near Fishtail, on both ends of town, particularly near West Rosebud Road.

We've had the good fortune to view a dozen or so at a time as they stop off there.

The early spring gathering of Sandhills on the Platte River in Nebraska is among the greatest wildlife spectacles on the continent, with over a quarter of a million birds present at one time. The overall species is not yet endangered, yet their dependence on key stopover sites makes them vulnerable to loss of habitat in future. Two specific subspecies are endangered: the Mississippi sandhill crane and Cuban sandhill crane.

Sandhill cranes in Stillwater County are no sissy birds.  The ones in the northern hemisphere migrate long distances (some cross the Bering Straits every spring and fall, en route to and from nesting

grounds in Siberia). Those from the southern part of their  main breeding range -- in the northern and western parts of the lower 48 states -- migrate shorter distances.

Recently, with global warming, the sandhill has begun migrating later in fall and earlier in spring. Some are spending winters farther north than usual. Sandhill crane populations nesting in Mississippi, Florida, and Cuba do not migrate at all.  Lucky, birds, to be able to stay put, enjoy the sun and conserve energy!

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