We were contacted in January 2025 by Andy Gossens from the International Crane Foundation in Nebraska about a curiously colored band on a Sandhill Crane. The prior spring on April 2, 2024, photographer Colleen Childers, was in a Crane Trust photography blind along the Platte River near Doniphan, NE observing a gathering of 10,000 Sandhill Cranes. She took several photos of the birds and noted a particular crane with a yellow band on the upper right leg labeled “1E5”, and a smaller metal band near the foot of the left leg. The band number was reported to the USGS Bird Banding Lab database, and it was discovered that this adult male crane was banded on July 26, 2006, making it at least 19 years old at the time it was sighted! But even more exciting was that this Sandhill Crane was banded here at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge!
Sandhill Cranes are one of two species of large cranes in North America, the other being Whooping Cranes. The Sandhill Cranes are known to frequent the edges of bodies of water and their common name refers to its habitat on the edge of Nebraska’s Sandhills on the American Great Plains. Five subspecies of Sandhill Crane are recognized, varying in size and weight. Two subspecies are migratory (Lesser and Greater) while three are non-migratory (Mississippi, Cuban, and Florida). The Greater Sandhill Cranes follow shorter migration routes and are found breeding in the Lower 48 and Southern Canada. Lesser cranes follow the longest migration routes and breed in Alaska, even as far away as Siberia! View the various populations and their migration routes in the map below.
1) Greater and Lesser, 2) Greater, 3) Greater, 4) Lesser, 5) Greater, 6) Mississippi cranes, 7) Florida cranes, and 8) Cuban cranes.
These Sandhill Cranes that venture up to Interior Alaska are a part of a large mid-continent population of Greater and Lesser birds which totals around 1,000,000. During February and March, flocks of cranes make their way from west Texas up to the Platte River in Nebraska to feed prior to migrating North to their breeding grounds. The shallow waters and river bars of the broad Platte River provide safe roosting at night after days of feeding in the rich fields and bottom lands. This area sees bird gatherings in the hundreds of thousands, creating a tourism spectacle for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Just this last spring migration, on March 17, 2025, the Crane Trust Science Team surveyed an 80-mile stretch of river to count the gathering crane numbers. The count came to 736,000 with an estimated +/- 55,000 birds, an all-time record count!
The Tanana Valley birds then depart the Platte River and make their way through Canada and into Alaska. These cranes typically arrive in the Tanana River Valley and at Creamer’s Field in the last week of April with most mated pairs will making their way directly to their nesting areas in wet meadow habitats.
Bird Trouble in the Golden Heart City
The large influx of birds passing through Fairbanks during their migrations brings a lot of attention and excitement, but also a great risk. Bird strikes are a widespread aviation safety concern that can cause potential damage and risks. While most bird strikes are minor, some can lead to engine damage, forced emergency landings, or even fatalities. The fatal crash of US Air Force Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) jet at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage in September 1995 was caused by a collision with a flock of Canada Geese. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2023 it was reported that 19,400 wildlife strikes occurred at US airports, with the majority involving birds.
Seasonal migrations bring millions of birds thousands of miles to the boreal forest and the arctic to breed and raise the next generation. Many birds come through the Fairbanks area, bringing tourists and residents to witness the large, feathered gatherings. Fairbanks also happens to have a bustling international airport and two U.S. military bases. The Sandhill Cranes were attracted to the UAF Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station agricultural fields, wetlands, and open grass areas nearby to gather and feed. They would cross runways on their way to and from nighttime roosts on the Tanana River south of the airport. This constant activity worried airport officials and military leadership as they were worried about bird strikes leading to aircraft damage or accidents in the area.
Crane Project Collaboration
In 1987, Fairbanks airport officials approached the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to see what could be done to alleviate the crane situation. Creamer’s Field was already a large gathering place for migratory waterfowl, but more needed to be done to draw the cranes to the refuge and away from these sensitive areas near aircraft.
With airport funding, multiple agencies participated in handling this situation and a cooperative agreement was created between the USFWS, ADF&G, US Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska Department of Transportation, Fairbanks International Airport, US Army at Fort Wainwright, USAF at Eielson Air Force Base, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This project was one of the first of its kind.
For this project to work, multiple things needed to materialize, 1) the birds needed to be tagged and tracked to see which crane flocks were gathering in these sensitive areas, 2) habitat improvements needed to be made on the refuge and near the airport, 3) agricultural acreage needed to be increased at Creamer’s Field, and 4) bird hazing efforts at the airport, Eielson AFB, Fort Wainwright, and UAF agricultural fields.
From 1988 to 1990, the crane banding effort was led by ADF&G Creamer’s Field Refuge Manager Pam Bruce and USFWS Biologist Rod King. Other banding crew helpers included John Wright, Gail Mayo, Audrey Magoun, Randy Zarnke, and Mike Travis. Bird banding is important for studying and managing bird populations. The uniquely numbered bands allow researchers to track individual birds to understand their movements, behavior, survival rates, and contribute to the conservation of bird species. If a band is recovered or viewed on a bird, the number can be entered into the USGS Bird Banding Lab database, where its history and other information unique to that bird can be found.
Crane Wrangling
Catching and banding Sandhill Cranes is not a simple or easy task. These powerful birds stand 3-4 ft tall with long legs, long wings, a long neck, a sharp bill, and long feet with sharp claws that can penetrate clothing. Catching these birds requires a rocket net, a baited field, and several sets of hands around to help contain the birds.
Pam Bruce and her banding crew would come out to band at the refuge around 3 or 4 AM during the later summer months and would even use her own car battery to power the rocket net launching mechanism (view photo left). Upon capture, two individuals handle each crane to secure their wings and legs and then place them in a sack to calm them down.
The birds were then weighed, measured, and banded before they were then released. The captured cranes were outfitted with large readable plastic leg bands and neck collars, so the individual birds could be identified from afar. Some birds also had Very High Frequency (VHF) transmitters attached to them to track their movements.
Over the three years, 59 birds were tagged, and it was determined that the cranes using Creamer’s Field in the fall also flew by the Fairbanks International Airport on their daily route to and from their nighttime roosts along the Tanana River.
Refuge Improvements
In the years following, a large, shallow pond was constructed on the eastern side of the refuge by 1991 and from 1999-2002, ponds were added in the front viewing fields to allow the cranes places to gather and roost (view map below left).
More refuge fields were cleared for barley planting (10 to 50 acres) giving the cranes more crops to forage. On airport land, officials filled in a gravel pit where cranes would cross the runway enroute to their nighttime roosts. Taking away this feature made airport land less attractive for gathering cranes.
Second Crane Banding Project
ADF&G conducted another crane banding project in the 2000s at Creamer’s Field led by Jason Caikoski and John Wright. This project aimed to widen the scope to determine migration routes, wintering areas, annual survival estimates, conduct avian influenza surveillance, and determine the subspecies of the Sandhill Cranes nesting in Interior Alaska. By 2000, farming acreage had increased to approximately 127 acres at the refuge. Rocket nets were utilized again in capturing and tagging the cranes.
From 2001 to 2007, 342 birds were captured. The project ran for twice as long as the previous project. With increased help and effort, the project ran later into the fall season when more cranes and family groups were present at the refuge. The crane spotted in April 2024 on the Platte River with the yellow 1E5 band, was tagged in 2006 towards the end of this project.
In 2001, four birds were outfitted with satellite GPS transmitters to track their movements to their breeding and wintering areas. The transmitters showed that the cranes nested within 100 miles of the Tanana Valley area during the summer months. After fall migration, they show the cranes wintering in north central Texas, east of the Grulia and Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuges between Pampa/Amarillo and San Angelo.
Crane Convergence
In addition to the banding projects, crane and waterfowl numbers were recorded daily throughout the month of August. Bird numbers generally peak at around 1,500 to 2,000 during the last two weeks of the month with peak numbers of 2,770 in 2002 and 2,575 in 2004. This activity coincides with the Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival. This bird festival celebrates the abundance of birds of fall migration with free events that include nature walks, kids’ crafts and activities, a keynote speaker address, and various workshops over multiple days. These migration events draw thousands of birders and photographers to the region to witness the incredible gathering. The festival is organized by the Friends of Creamer’s Field, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Alaska Songbird Institute, Arctic Audubon Society, and Ducks Unlimited. For information on the Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival, visit www.friendsofcreamersfield.org.
As September approaches, temperatures and daylight decrease and the Tanana Valley cranes will ready themselves to leave the Interior and head towards Eastern Alaska. After they pass through the Yukon, they will stage in Saskatchewan for 10-20 days before heading south into the lower 48.
Over the years, many have spotted the yellow-banded cranes during migration with their mates and offspring. The average life expectancy for Sandhill Cranes is 7 years old, however they can live as long as 20-35 years old! Cranes may start breeding between 2 and 8 years of age, depending on their subspecies, population, and individual development. Mated pairs typically raise 1–2 offspring annually. The delayed onset of breeding and low yearly reproductive rates contribute to the species’ slow population growth. This gradual population increase presents challenges for the conservation and management of vulnerable populations (Tacha et al. 1989, Drewien et al. 1995b, BDG). With these recently sighted birds aged to least 19 years old, we can infer that these exceptionally old birds have probably produced numerous young and have journeyed hundreds of thousands of miles throughout their lives! If you happen to spot a yellow-banded crane, write down the numeric code or try to get a photo of the band number, and report the band here.
The Enduring Journey
For millennia, Sandhill Cranes have graced the skies with their elegant flight, embodying resilience and unity as they embark on epic migrations across the continent. These majestic birds, with their echoing calls and synchronized movements, connect landscapes and communities; all reminding us of the enduring cycles of nature.
Here in Fairbanks, the crane banding project played a vital role in understanding and preserving this legacy. Even with less and less yellow-banded cranes spotted each year, this legacy helped connect and create collaborations among the community, each one doing their part to make sure the birds continue to come to Creamer’s Field. By tracking their movements and behaviors, this effort deepened our connection to these remarkable birds, ensuring their migratory journeys inspire awe for generations to come.
Resources:
Drewien, R. C., W. M. Brown and W. L. Kendall. (1995b). Recruitment in Rocky Mountain Greater Sandhill Cranes and comparison with other crane populations. Journal of Wildlife Management 59 (2):339-356.
Gerber, B. D., J. F. Dwyer, S. A. Nesbitt, R. C. Drewien, C. D. Littlefield, T. C. Tacha, and P. A. Vohs (2020). Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.sancra.01
Jones, Kenneth & Krapu, Gary & Brandt, David & Ashley, Mary. (2005). Jones KL, Krapu GL, Brandt DA, Ashley MV.. Population genetic structure in migratory sandhill cranes and the role of Pleistocene glaciations. Mol Ecol 14: 2645-2657. Molecular ecology. 14. 2645-57. 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02622.x.
Tacha, T. C., D. E. Haley and P. A. Vohs. (1989). Age of sexual maturity in Sandhill Cranes from mid-continental North America. Journal of Wildlife Management 53:43-46.
Top featured image by Ken Whitten, crane with yellow band E20 spotted in 2016.
Information and photos compiled by Melanie Graeff, the Programs & Events Coordinator with the Friends of Creamer’s Field.
