From: David.G.Shappirio@um.cc.umich.edu Date: Sun, 2 Oct 94 08:56:54 EDT To: alb@umcc.umich.edu Subject: Haehnle Sanctuary >From the east, take I-94 westbound to the Race Rd. exit. This is the 3rd exit after entering Jackson County. Go N on Race Rd about 3 miles until it ends at Seymour Rd. Turn left (W). The Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary is located just off the N side of Seymour Rd about 2 miles W of where you entered it from Race Rd. It is posted. There is an empty field that serves as a parking lot. After parking, walk E from the parking lot to the Sanctuary entry, then follow the trail about 200 yards NE up a slight rise from which you overlook a marshland and lake (one of many called Mud Lake in this part of the world). The cranes may be there in small numbers, but main arrival is just before it starts to get dark. Peak numbers late October, maybe into early November, depending on weather. Binoculars are very helpful. A tele- scope even better, as the birds land some distance from the observing site on the hilltop. >From the west, I-94 skirts the N edge of Jackson. Go past the turnoffs for US-127 (there are two, several miles apart). Race Rd. is the 3rd exit after southbound US-127. Go N, following route in preceding paragraph. >From the south: any route N to I-94, then E or W to Race Rd. From the N, any route to I-94, then E or W to Race Rd. P.S. Even someone with no binoculars or telescope can still see the thrilling arrival and overhead (if you are lucky, it varies with different birds and on different days) flyby of anywhere from one or a few to very large numbers of cranes. Also, the parking lot gets quite full on Sunday afternoons. From: David.G.Shappirio@um.cc.umich.edu Date: Sun, 2 Oct 94 09:01:00 EDT To: alb@umcc.umich.edu Subject: Sandhill cranes You will have just gotten the memo on how to find the cranes at Haehnle. I did not include the fact that what one is seeing is a gathering, late in the day, of cranes that have been out in various other places, feeding. Gathering of the large flock is apparently part of the pre-migration strategy. >From our neighbors in Indiana, I hear that there are even larger numbers of birds at the Jasper/Pulaski area. Sue, who transcribes the IN list, can probably give directions although this area is marked on most road maps. David From: David.G.Shappirio@um.cc.umich.edu Date: Sun, 2 Oct 94 09:45:48 EDT To: alb@umcc.umich.edu Subject: Re: Sandhill cranes Fine, but perhaps a mild statement ought to be inserted that max numbers only appear later in October. There are birds that are in this general vicinity all summer; then they concentrate prior to migration. I'm going to message Sue at South Bend to try and confirm the best dates at Jasper/Pulaski, where there are even more birds (though I do not know what the viewing conditions are there; they are super at Haehnle). I'll let you know if I hear back soon. David