Out for a stroll

It’s a sure sign of spring when a pair of Sandhill Cranes is spotted taking a stroll near the entrance to Oxford Middle School’s Wildcat Drive. The large cranes migrate to Florida in November (much like local seniors) and usually return in late February or early March. On average, the birds are four feet tall with six-foot wing spans. Sandhill Cranes have made a remarkable comeback. Back in 1937, a survey of southern Michigan found only 17 pairs. In 2002, the Great Lakes population was estimated to exceed 36,000 with 10,000 cranes in Michigan.