Four smaller birds accompanied the cranes for a short distance.
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Four smaller birds accompanied the cranes for a short distance.
On Saturday, November 10, 2012--twelve years ago today--Joan and I hiked the Meadow and Marshland Trail at Michigan Audubon's Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary. We've often walked that two mile trail, as it's fairly convenient and quite different from our usual wanders. It features marshes, a pond, these meadows, and a few interesting trees. At a couple places it's on the edge of a forest.
And: Of course there are birds.
We first hiked this trail when it was new, in 1996; at that point you could still see many signs that it had recently been a farm. Nowadays those signs are gone, and it's got a fairly wilderness feel. A good place.
After our hike we headed over to Big Marsh Lake and watched the Sandhill Cranes gather for the night.
This is the November photo for the 2024 calendar I made for family and friends, called "We Went for a Walk."
Here's Joan, framed by a tree and a bush, on a trail called Meadow and Marshland. She's carrying her then brand-new Nikon 1 J1. A dozen years ago today Joan and I spent part of the afternoon wandering around Michigan Audubon's Bernard Baker Sanctuary, where I caught this photo. Baker's long been one of our favorite hikes.
This is the March photo for my 2024 calendar.
Oh, the SOUND! Turn it up!
Yesterday evening Joan and I joined her sister Edna and my sister Debbie at Big Marsh Lake, near Bellevue, Michigan, to watch the Cranes come in. Here's a short video that perhaps gives an idea what the experience is like.
Battle Creek Kiwanis and Michigan Audubon have hosted CraneFest at the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area in Convis Township during October for over two decades. For several weekends after the festival, Kiwanis again opens the facility to let folks watch the birds.
Here's Big Marsh Lake again, but this photo's from October of 2005. This is why we visit the crane viewing area at the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, near Bellevue, Michigan.
The viewing area's open on weekend evenings for the next three weekends. It's definitely worth the trip if you live near Lansing or Battle Creek. And maybe if you live farther away.
Convis Township, Michigan. We were wandering this Michigan Audubon property on March 22, 2014.
At Big Marsh Lake in Convis Township, near Bellevue, Michigan. This photo was taken on 10/9/2010; the event was a followup activity to Michigan Audubon's annual CraneFest.
As I usually do, I've made a calendar for my friends and family this year; I'm calling it "A Birdy Calendar from Joel." This photo's on the cover.
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I'm taking a badly-needed social media break, friends. I'll see you in a while.
Michigan Audubon's Bernard Baker Sanctuary; October of 2020.
April of 2012.
Many Sandhill Cranes. Three in the air and a whole bunch in Big Marsh Lake. I see a few Canada Geese swimming about, too.
This photo was taken at the same location--Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, near Bellevue--as the cranes photo I posted a few days back, but this was taken a couple weeks later. The other was taken during Michigan Audubon's annual CraneFest; this was at sort of an open house that Audubon hosts during October weekends.
I was sorting through some old photos yesterday and found this one. So here it is.
Taken during Michigan Audubon's Crane Fest at the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, near Bellevue. October 9, 2010.
At Michigan Audubon's Bernard Baker Sanctuary, near Bellevue. Ten years ago today.
Explored! #474 on 12/21/2023. Thanks, everyone!