Hi All, We still have lots of sparrows on the refuge, although today they're hunkered down in the wind. White-throated, white-crowned, Harris's and fox are at the refuge feeder daily. I got a photo of a LeConte's a couple of days ago - it's not a great shot, but shows field marks and colors. That was fun! A lone black-bellied plover remains on Stickney Pool on the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive - the last bit of water before the end of the loop, just past the eagle nest. I think it's the same bird that's been there for a week or more. It seems to be healthy, as it can fly; must like the snacks it's finding there. Swans, ducks, cranes, herons, and assorted songbirds are still present as well, but in dwindling numbers...except for the sparrows! Sandhill crane numbers continue to build and this week's count was 4600. Because St. Francis Pool is dry, which has been their traditional overnight roost site, they've moved to Fox Pool which is about 1/2 mile farther west. Consequently, the best place to see the morning fly-out is not on CR 70, but from another refuge parking area on 25th St. just SE of Santiago. I've updated my "crane viewing map" to show the site of this other parking area, but unfortunately, I can't put it on the web site, as we're in the midst of creating our "new" site and the webmaster won't put any more information on the old site. If you download a copy of the old map, note that 25th St. goes to the east just below Santiago, and dead ends. Our parking area is at the end of this street. We'll be using this site for both Saturday morning crane tours, October 6 and 13, but any other morning it is open to you for crane viewing. Large flocks of birds are easily seen during the day, using corn fields north and east of Santiago. Betsy Beneke Sherburne NWR
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