Observation 6981

Crane behavior during this census made a normally guesstimate count into a very wild guess. 1) The majority of cranes left this roost Thursday, 21 October. That count the previous day was approximately 800 birds. 2) The birds did not use only one roost as traditionally they have. This year two roosts separated by 2 miles were used. 3) The cranes this year did not leave the foraging fields at near sunset and fly to the roost as has been traditional practice. Instead, they stayed in the fields long after sunset. It was then so dark, I would only hear them fly to the roost.