All, I counted 176 last year at once in Knox Marsellus. That was the highest number I had come across until Pete Saracino's 256 yesterday!
What an amazing story, huh? -- Alyssa Johnson Environmental Educator 315.365.3588 Montezuma Audubon Center PO Box 187 2295 State Route 89 Savannah, NY 13146 Montezuma.audubon.org -----Original Message----- From: bounce-125194860-79436...@list.cornell.edu <bounce-125194860-79436...@list.cornell.edu> On Behalf Of metet...@gmail.com Sent: Saturday, December 5, 2020 11:28 AM To: Cayuga Birds <Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma crane breeding success? The numbers of Sandhill Cranes are now about double any previous year by my marginal memory’s recollection. The highest I remember 2 years ago was around 127 (but eBird search experts can correct me). If y happy just enjoying the beautiful flock stop reading.! Based on this year’s nesting stories that I either saw, heard or read about the refuge didn’t contribute much. First, I read of a pair that had 2 young near the main pool observation tower. That went down to one young then I heard none. The DEC staff told me that a pair at Morgan road had one bird disappear long enough to hopefully incubate but rejoined the other with no young in tow. The Carncross Road pair appeared together often but no baby. Joann and I found one on a nest at the Sandhill Crane unit. They hatched one young but that bird disappeared a short week later. Finally a pair at Knox showed up with a fledgling and as far a I know that was the only refuge success. I hope others have better stories as I heard talk of pairs on Howland Island and at the MAC. The first post nesting gathering at Knox that I saw were consistent with this as I remember a dozen with 1 juvenile. Then they came from everywhere apparently. Yay! This number also starts concerns with me about potential future hunting. I don’t know where our birds winter but know that the eastern population can be hunted in Tennessee, Kentucky and starting last year Alabama. Its pretty unlikely that the hunters here won’t want to shoot the “ribeyes of the sky” so start campaigning to have them protected! Mike Tetlow Sent from my iPhone -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --