“Listen” ....   “It’s only the wind.”
“No Listen! .... It’s a crane!”
“The sandhills are back!”

Yes, the sandhill cranes are back again.  This year up to 23 sandhill cranes have been spotted in their majestic flight over the Otter Creek Marsh in Tama County.  A few sandhill cranes had used Otter Creek Marsh prior to 1992 as a resting place in their annual spring and fall migration.  But in 1992, a pair of sandhills successfully hatched two chicks, the first documented successful nesting since the late 1800’s in Iowa.  Otter Creek Marsh has had either one or two successful nests each year since that first nest in 1992.

The sandhill crane is the oldest living species of bird, with fossils dating back six million years.  Many biologists believe the sandhill has been virtually unchanged for nine million years.  Sandhill cranes are tall, long-necked, long-legged birds that live in shallow freshwater marshes and open grasslands.  Their gray plumage is offset only by a bare red crown, white cheek feathers, and a black bill, legs and feet.  Males are slightly larger than females, but the sexes look alike and can best be distinguished by their behavior during mating displays.  Young birds look similar to adults, but have gray feathers in place of the red skin on their crowns.

Cranes are a very secretive species requiring large, open freshwater wetlands and shallow marshes.  Otter Creek Marsh fits the habitat needs of the sandhill crane.  Otter Creek Marsh comprises some 3,500 acres on the floodplain of Otter Creek and the Iowa river near Chelsea in southeast Tama County.  The marsh consists of eight individually managed segments.  Segments #3 and #5 have been established as a Wildlife Refuge.  The refuge provides protection for the many thousands of waterfowl that migrate through this area in the fall.

The best time to see the sandhill cranes is in the morning or early evening.  The best segments are either #3 or #5.  These segments are part of the refuge but the refuge is open in the spring and summer for wildlife viewing.  Water levels are maintained in these segments to provide optimum conditions for the sandhills.

Otter Creek Marsh is also home to many other wildlife species.  Many people enjoy walking the extensive dike system to view river otters, herons, hawks, yellow-headed blackbirds and cormorants as well as the many species of ducks and geese.  For information on the best viewing areas, stop in at the Otter Creek Unit headquarters located on county road E-66 just west of the town of Chelsea.  The staff would be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Loss and degradation of wetlands and other habitats are the most important threats to sandhill crane populations.  For migratory species, this is of greatest concern in staging and wintering areas, where changes in land use, hydrology and vegetation have reduced available habitat straining food availability during a critical period.  As their breeding grounds become smaller and of poorer quality due to land use changes, the threat to this species increases significantly.  Iowa is fortunate to have a few, high quality wetlands, like Otter Creek Marsh, suitable for cranes which is partly why we are seeing more of the sandhills each year.  However, if we want to ensure the continued success of this bird in our state, we need to secure and restore more wildlife habitat.

Yes, the sandhills are back and this time we hope they continue to come back every year.

For additional information contact Rick Trine at (641) 752-5521.

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