Michigan is at the northern most breeding range and our recruitment rate falls within the necessary percentage to simply maintain the current population status. The non-hunted Eastern Population of sandhill cranes has an average recruitment of 12 percent and scientific studies suggest that recruitment rates of 5 to 10 percent are necessary for population maintenance at current levels. Although some sandhill cranes are physically capable of breeding as early as two years of age, most sandhill cranes may reach the age of four to seven years of age before breeding. This slow rate of what biologists call “ recruitment ” has resulted in a very long and slow recovery from near extirpation in Michigan. Sandhill cranes are one of the slowest reproducing birds in North America.

Sandhill cranes have been protected in the Great Lakes State since 1916 under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (i.e., closure of hunting in 1918), which makes it unlawful to 'take' (pursue, hunt, shoot, poison, wound, or kill) the sandhill crane within the state of Michigan. A 10-million-year-old crane fossil may be from a prehistoric relative or the direct ancestor of sandhill cranes. The oldest unequivocal sandhill crane fossil is 2.5 million years old, older by half than the earliest remains of most living species of birds. The fossil record shows sandhill cranes have one of the longest fossil histories of any extant bird. The large wingspan make cranes very skilled soaring birds, often using thermals to obtain lift and stay aloft for many hours, requiring only occasional flapping of their wings and consequently expending little energy. Except for this size difference and slightly thicker tail feathers of the male, both sexes look alike. Their stately appearance can give a false impression of size the males weigh an average of about 10-12 pounds and the females around 9 pounds. From wingtip to wingtip their outstretched wings can measure up to 7 feet. Sandhills are a tall, long legged, long necked gray bird with a bright red crown. The Sandhill crane, or Grus canadensis, is Michigan’s largest bird and its oldest living bird species.

Backyard cranes in the sky