The abundance of food, water, space, and roosting areas on the refuge culminate in a high-quality wintering habitat for many migratory birds. To catch a glimpse of these birds and the other wildlife wintering at Wheeler, you can explore miles of hiking and biking trails through native wetlands and woodlands, and agricultural fields, or you can visit the newly renovated observation building and photo blind that provides birders, photographers, and nature enthusiasts with unobstructed views of these wintering birds. In these spaces, you will see why Wheeler NWR is truly one of the best places in the country to observe and appreciate migratory birds!

One of the most prominent and charismatic birds at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is the Sandhill Crane. From late October to early March, upward of 17,000 Sandhill Cranes can be found roosting, foraging, or interacting with other cranes on the refuge. Intermixed in these flocks of Sandhill Cranes, you may also catch a glimpse of a far rarer species that has visitors flocking to the observation building each winter - the endangered Whooping Crane! On average, Wheeler NWR hosts around 15 Whooping Cranes each year.

Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes use the same habitat types while in Alabama and are often seen using these spaces together. While at Wheeler NWR, you can see both species of cranes roosting in exposed wetland habitats along the Tennessee River and foraging in agricultural fields left behind from cooperative farming agreements on the refuge. While Alabama’s cranes both benefit from the same habitats and share very similar features, there are a few ways visitors can tell the difference between Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes during their stay at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Sandhill Cranes have gray feathers throughout their body and stand at 4-4 ½ feet tall. They have a red patch of skin on their forehead and a white cheek. Whooping Cranes are white with black on their wingtips that are hidden unless in flight. Whooping Cranes are larger than Sandhills, standing at 5 feet tall, and they sport a black mustache on their cheeks.

When observing cranes at Wheeler NWR, you may notice some of them have colorful bands on their legs. The majority of banded cranes you will see are Whooping Cranes, an endangered species recently reintroduced to the eastern United States. Whooping Cranes do not have identifiable differences to distinguish between individuals, so this population is banded to help biologists monitor their migratory movements, breeding success, and survival. To support this population’s monitoring efforts as a citizen scientist, you can report your sightings of banded cranes to the International Crane Foundation at www.bandedcranes.org! In Alabama, Whooping Cranes will have a combination of red, green, black, and/ or white bands on one or both legs. Visitors may also see a banded Sandhill Crane on the refuge, however, this is far less common because the Sandhill Cranes are of least conservation concern.

Sandhill Cranes are an abundant species with over 800,000 across North America; many of which have been wintering in Alabama for hundreds of years. The Whooping Crane, however, is a recent addition to our state. In 2001, the International Crane Foundation and other crane conservation partners introduced a migratory population of Whooping Cranes that would breed in Wisconsin and winter at Chassahowitska National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. This population is known as the Eastern Migratory Population and its purpose is to safeguard the future of wild Whooping Cranes. During the reintroduction process, Wheeler NWR was originally planned to be a stopover site on the way to Florida. However, since 2011, Whooping Cranes have begun cutting their migration short, and Wheeler NWR is now the preferred wintering habitat for around 20 percent of the Eastern Migratory Population.

As a result of the many cranes filling Wheeler’s landscape and skies with their raucous calls, thousands of visitors from Decatur and all over the country visit the refuge each winter. Even so, there are many North Alabama residents that have never visited Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, nor experienced the breathtaking views and abundant opportunities to observe these ancient and charismatic birds. The International Crane Foundation wants to encourage everyone to visit Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and experience the sights and sounds the cranes bring to Decatur. Another way that residents and visitors can celebrate cranes in North Alabama is by attending the annual Festival of the Cranes.

Festival of the Cranes, developed from a partnership with Decatur/Morgan County Tourism, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, the Cook Museum of Natural Science, Decatur Public Library, and more, is a family-friendly event for all ages and is an opportunity to celebrate Alabama’s wintering cranes. This festival is held in mid-January in downtown Decatur and features vendors, speakers, and performances at the Princess Theatre and Alabama Center for the Arts.

In addition to celebrating cranes each year, there are plenty of opportunities for community members to appreciate and support the cranes at Wheeler. If you are interested in learning more about Whooping Cranes in Alabama and conservation efforts to safeguard their future, please visit the International Crane Foundation at www.savingcranes.org.

How you can support the cranes in Decatur, AL:

• · Volunteering with the International Crane Foundation at Wheeler NWR.
• · Exploring the trails and observation stations that overlook crane habitats at Wheeler NWR.
• · Limiting disturbances to Whooping Cranes by practicing responsible and safe birding behavior. · Reporting your banded crane sightings to www.bandedcranes.org
• · Protecting the waterways of North Alabama that feed into Wheeler NWR.
• · Protecting endangered Whooping Cranes from harm and reporting illegal activity to local authorities (1-800-272-GAME).
• · Sharing support of Alabama’s cranes on social media and with friends and family.