Day 159- Whoop Whoop

When we were thinking of names for the farm, my wife’s idea of Craneview on Plainview was instantly accepted. We love cranes. One of our favorite places to visit is the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. I may or may not watch crane webinars for fun in my very limited free time. We enjoy seeing them during the migratory times of year as well. It is safe to say we might be full blown craniacs.

When we saw the sandhill crane colt in our backyard for the first time, we were in love. We couldn’t be more excited to see a crane family shae the space we call home. Even though they chased me around a bit, I still loved seeing our cranes each and every time.

My wife jokingly mentioned that our main goal in this purchase was to have a whooping crane visit. Then, we could move. In case you didn't know, Wisconsin has two types of cranes : sandhills (very common) and whooping (very rare). The whooping crane is a great example of conservation success stories and there is a plethora of information telling the story of this majestic creature. We have been fortunate enough to see a few in the wild but that is a very, very special occasion most people don't get to realize. Having one in our own backyard would be a dream come true.

One spring day, I noticed our original private property signs were in need of replacement. I created some new ones and walked out to put them up. It was early spring so the first sandhills

had just recently returned from their southern grounds. As I walked west near the property line with new signs in hand, I heard a squawk and looked up to see a half dozen sandhills fifty yards away. With their dull coloring, I probably wouldn't have even noticed them if not for their warning call that I was approaching. Standing out amongst the sea of gray and green was a flash of bright white. 

I instantly knew what to do. I called my wife. I told her to put on her boots and head outside. 

Her dream had just come true.

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Day 158