Crane Take-Off

Perhaps not the most graceful pair taking off from shore, Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin are a great American ecological recovery story. Estimated population in 1930, when loss of habitat and hunting took its toll on this native species, was down to about 15 breeding pairs. Still rarely seen fifty years ago in 1976, recovery was up to around 1,000 cranes. Today, there are estimated to be over 112,000 Sandhill Cranes in the state and now state ecologists are navigating what some consider overpopulation issues (Lodi, Wisconsin).

≡Canon R5/RF24-240 240mm f/7.1 1/400sec iso-100