Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

Home | Geographical Scope | Historical Perspective | Format | Species Accounts | Hypothetical List | Acknowledgements | Literature Cited

GRUIDAE

Sandhill Crane  Grus canadensis

WINTER:  Casual Visitant.  Six on the 2001 (30 December at Harris River Front Park) Huntington CBC; one on 09 February 1972 near Milton, Cabell Co., WV (Pauley 1974); five from 04 February (WA, MG) to 19 February 1995 (BD) at Green Bottom WMA.  See Remarks section.

SUMMER:  Accidental.  One from 19 June (PD, GR) through August 2005 at Crab Creek, Mason Co., WV (See Remarks section).

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Casual Visitant from late March to late May since 2000.  One on 22 and 23 March 2002 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, MG); one on 17 April 2003 at Crab Creek, Mason Co., WV (WA); one on 19 April 2003 at Green Bottom WMA (MG, HS); one on 22 May 2002 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, MG); three on 23 May (MG) and 24 May 2000 (WA) at Green Bottom WMA.

 Fall:  Casual Visitant.  Two near Barboursville, Cabell Co., WV in October 1973 (LW); one on 28 and 26 September 1999 at Huntington, Cabell Co., WV (HS); one in September 1934 near Point Pleasant, Mason Co., WV (Brooks 1944).  See Remarks section.

REMARKS:

Single bird recorded at Crab Creek on numerous occasions from September 2005 into January 2006.  On 24 January 2006, two were found at nearby Mud Creek Road (JOB, JNB) and courtship display was noted on 28 (AW, MW) and 29 (DP) January at Crab Creek; both last recorded on 09 March 2006 (CE).