See the Sandhills at Sherburne

It’s a crisp afternoon in early November, and I’m giddy. My husband and I are going to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Zimmerman. It’s one of our favorite fall birding destinations due partly to its status as a critical fall migration stopover for thousands of sandhill cranes.

After an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities, we are nearing the 30,700-acre refuge when we spot our first sandhill cranes in a nearby field. As we enter the refuge’s popular Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, a winding seven-mile gravel road, we see more, making plenty of stops along the way to admire other bird life including trumpeter swans, cedar waxwings, a bald eagle, and numerous waterfowl.

Next we trek over to the refuge lot on County Road 70, crane-viewing central, which is overflowing with spectators. We venture just north of the refuge boundaries and locate dozens of cranes gathering in a freshly harvested field. Parking on the side of the road, we peer at them out the windows, keeping our distance to avoid any disruption. As one of the oldest bird species, with fossils dating back at least two million years, sandhill cranes stand up to five feet tall, with grayish white plumage and a trademark red crown. Due to preening in the refuge’s iron-rich mud, their feathers have turned rusty brown.

As the sun starts to go down, it’s a nonstop frenzy of cranes as flocks arrive at the refuge to roost for the evening. With binoculars focused on the birds in the sky, we listen intently for their many vocalizations, which can sound like a gurgle, a purr, or even a bugle.

As the crispness of the air turns to a chill—a preview of winter waiting in the wings—the sky transforms into a fall canvas of yellows, pinks, and oranges, with the cranes’ chatter providing the perfect soundtrack to the end of a beautiful fall day. 
 

Plan Your Trip

• Fall sandhill crane migration typically starts in mid-October and ends when local ponds freeze over. More than 20,000 cranes were counted at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge last year.
• Along with sandhill cranes, the refuge’s varied habitats, which include oak savanna, woods, and wetlands, make it a fall migration hot spot for species including American white pelicans, hummingbirds, orioles, warblers, swallows, eagles, and hawks. The refuge is designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.
• The refuge is open 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. No entrance fee or parking permit is required.
• Maps of the refuge are available at fws.gov/refuge/sherburne and can be found at kiosks around the refuge. Headquarters are open Monday-Thursday; call 763-389-3323 for hours.
• Friends of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, a nonprofit group supporting the refuge, offers additional information, including event announcements and a downloadable brochure about sandhill crane migration. Visit exploresherburne.org.