Calling all bird lovers, new birders, and avid hobbyists! Experience the comeback of midwestern cranes by participating in an annual wildlife monitoring event as part of the International Crane Foundation’s Midwest Crane Count.
INHF is partnering with Polk County Conservation to host Sandhill Crane counts at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt and Brenton Slough (a current INHF project).
Walking routes only will be available at Brenton Slough. Participants will need to be familiar with using GPS to record locations of sightings on their phones or other devices. No prior experience necessary.
Registration is required by April 8th. If the event is at capacity, contact ConservationVolunteers@polkcountyiowa.gov to inquire about participation.
More about the Midwest Crane Count
Each year in mid-April, over 1,600 volunteers across the Midwest travel to their local wetlands and favorite birding locations to participate in collecting population data. This annual survey of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes spans over 120 counties in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota. In Polk County, this data provides key insights into the effectiveness of our habitat restoration efforts in our management areas.