Bird-Watchers Can Plan for More Than Just Viewing at Crane Days

By Kathy Gilbert, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

Jan. 28–Cherokee Indian Heritage and Sandhill Crane Viewing Days feature 15,000 sandhill cranes, three whooping cranes, a handful of bald and golden eagles, several top birders, two Cherokee leaders and Bill Lishman, who helps birds migrate using ultralight planes.

“The birds are the main attraction, but we’ve also got a great lineup of speakers and activities this year,” said Tennessee Wildlife Federation representative Tom Scott.

The free event takes place Saturday and Feb. 4 at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge near Birchwood. Event cosponsors are the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.

Efforts to restore threatened sandhill cranes and endangered whooping cranes led to the sandhills taking over the refuge in the last five years, said Dan Hicks, TWRA public information officer.

“It’s a true wildlife success story,” Mr. Hicks said.

Warm weather and 300 acres of corn boosted the number of cranes to a record high, said Wally Akins, Tennessee Wildlife Refuge Association refuge manager.

Warmer winters also prompted many cranes to stay at the refuge all winter. Others fly on to their Florida cold weather home and will stop at the refuge on their way back to Wisconsin in February through mid-March.

Cranes can be viewed at the refuge during daylight hours, seven days a week through mid-March, Mr. Hicks said.

On Saturday, Bill Lishman, co-founder of Operation Migration Inc., will speak on “Insights into the Whooping Crane” at 12:30 p.m. at the refuge. Bo Taylor and Freeman Owl of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee will talk about Cherokee wildlife, heritage, myths and stories from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park near the refuge.

The Tennessee Ornithological Society will set up scopes, offer binoculars and help viewers identify birds all weekend, Mr. Hicks said. Light lunches, hot coffee and hot chocolate will be served, he added.

Last year 7,000 people attended Crane days and about $7,000 was raised in donations. All proceeds go to Birchwood Elementary School, Mr. Hicks said.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff contribute their time, he said.

“With all the work we do to make sure the cranes have a safe place to land and food to eat, we want the public to come out and see the results,” he said.

FOR THE BIRDS: Cherokee Indian Heritage and Sandhill Crane Viewing Days, Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Birchwood, Tenn. Free. 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, all day Feb. 4. Call (800) 262-6704 or (931) 484-9571.

Blue Moon Cruises offers bird-watching boat cruises through the refuge for $39. Call (888) 993-2583, or visit www.bluemooncruises.org

Cranes can be viewed free during daylight hours through mid-March at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge on state Highway 60, west of U.S. Highway 58.

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