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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSandhill cranes overwinter on Platte River
[div class="excerpt" style="border: solid 1px #cccccc; border-radius:0.5385em; box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px #cccccc inset, 1px 1px 1px #cccccc;"]A rare and spectacular thing has happened along the Platte River west of Grand Island: People have seen and heard flocks of sandhill cranes in January.
About 1,000 sandhill cranes have overwintered along the river near the National Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary at Gibbon.
The majestic gray birds with red caps should be hundreds of miles south where it's warm at this time of year -- and not in Nebraska.
"I've been there 50 years and I've never seen it," said noted ornithologist and author Paul Johnsgard of Lincoln.
http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/sandhill-cranes-overwinter-on-platte-river/article_8ffa2a2c-f7c3-5f74-81ee-918ee9cca331.html\
Proof that global warming is a hoax*.
[font size=1](Do I *need* a sarcasm tag?)[/font]
(Spectacular pictures at the link.)
MuseRider
(34,125 posts)of Canada Geese here in NE Kansas. While we always have some I can say that I never once saw a large flock headed south before the winter and still have not seen one. As I look out my window my 5 acre pond is full of them, never has been frozen solid this winter, and my pastures are full of them. I have ducks now that I usually only see during migration as they stop here on their way to other locations. I am not at all surprised to read this. It is very sad.
The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)in SW Missouri. It is like they never left. Usually they have flown off to winter in more southerly climes. I think some may stay, but there are two "lakes" near me (they call them lakes, but they are more like oversized ponds that form part of the landscaping in a subdivision) that have a LOT of ducks and geese, and especially Canada Geese. When I lived in Tallahassee, I saw them in winter. But not here in SW Missouri.
Denninmi
(6,581 posts)Saw them after New Years in a field near the Clinton River in Waterford, Oakland Co.
I think all kinds of migratory birds have stayed north of their normal wintering range due to the mild weather.
louis-t
(23,297 posts)Unusually mild in MI (until today, brrrr). Heard geese in Dec. Very unusual.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)year. What will be interesting is whether it happens again next year, and years after that.
okieinpain
(9,397 posts)what is summer going to be like. those cranes might want to go south in the summer to find somewhere cooler. lol.
MuseRider
(34,125 posts)I know that it does not necessarily mean this summer will hold with higher than normal temps but if it does it will make last years month + of 100 degrees or greater seem like nothing. No moisture here either. They say we are not directly in a drought here where I am located but my pond is down between about 4 feet from last year, not frozen to hold in any kind of moisture and no snow. .2 inches so far, not once below 0 degrees. It is creepy.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)Stinky The Clown
(67,819 posts)Up there near the roof of Nebraska, all alone in his life devoid of human contact, hopefully he gets to enjoy seeing these birds as the river flows by his back yard.