Sandhill cranes migrate through Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge from mid-September to mid-November each year, providing a unique viewing opportunity for visitors. Learn more about these birds on the sandhill crane species page or in the Sherburne Sandhill Crane Fall Migration Brochure.
Best Option for Dawn and Dusk Viewing: While cranes are flying over the County Road 70 Parking Lot, park at GPS coordinates 45.537715800488506, -93.77017334103515.
Best Option for Daytime Viewing: While cranes are foraging in harvested fields north and west of the refuge. Please refer to the Sherburne Sandhill Crane Fall Migration Brochure for common locations.
Sherburne Sandhill Crane Fall Migration Brochure
Sandhill Crane Count:
Weekly, starting in early October and ending after the first hard freeze, typically the first week of November.
- October 8: 9,006 cranes
- October 15: 12,933 cranes
- October 22: 12,544 cranes
- November 6: 11,100 cranes
- November 13: 17,736 cranes
- November 19: 22,197 cranes
The next count will be on November 25.
We are experiencing issues with receiving and making phone calls on the Refuge Headquarters' main phone line. Please call 763-301-1827 for any questions regarding the refuge or America the Beautiful passes while we work to fix this issue.
Updated 11/6/2024
Visit Us
The refuge offers people a chance to unplug and relax. Locals can enjoy regular trips to the refuge and enjoy the change of seasons. Twin Cities residents can make the short drive north for a daytrip in nearby nature. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the wide variety of activities available at the refuge.
The refuge is open daily from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. From September 1 - February 28, the majority of the refuge is open to public use. Visiting the refuge is free!
Refuge Headquarters is open Monday - Thursday, 10 am to 4 pm and closed on federal holidays.
Oak Savanna Learning Center is open for refuge events or for conservation-related activities by appointment only.
America the Beautiful Passes are available at Refuge Headquarters. Please call 763-389-3323 or email sherburne@fws.gov to schedule an appointment. For fee-based passes, we can only accept cash or check payment.
Location and Contact Information
About Us
Every national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge was created for a special purpose. Some were created to protect migratory birds, others to protect threatened or endangered species or unique habitats, while others fulfill another special purpose. All activities allowed on refuges must be evaluated to make sure each activity will not conflict with the reason the refuge was founded.
Sherburne serves as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds. The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Act uses money from Duck Stamp sales to purchase refuge lands, and over 95% of the refuge was purchased using these funds. Many lands purchased with Duck Stamp funds were defined as inviolate sanctuaries. These lands, under most circumstances, must be at least partially closed to migratory bird hunting to allow birds a place of refuge and protection where they cannot be harmed.
What We Do
The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge.
- Prescribed fire
- Water level management
- Forest management
- Invasive species management
- People management
- Research, inventory and monitoring
Our Species
Predominately composed of oak savanna, the refuge supports a wide variety of wildlife, ranging from sandhill cranes to badgers to wild lupine. Bald eagles, Canada geese, wild turkeys and trumpeter swans are great success stories; once rare or eliminated from the refuge, they are now spotted on a regular basis. Red-headed woodpeckers, plains hog-nosed snakes and state-threatened Blanding’s turtles have found their niche at the refuge, especially important as the available habitat has declined over the decades.
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love. National wildlife refuges partner with volunteers, youth groups, landowners and neighbors to make a lasting difference. Find out how you can help make American lands healthier and communities stronger while doing something personally satisfying.