Ohio Crane Count

Volunteer observers reported 412 sandhill cranes during the fourth annual Midwest Crane Count on Saturday, April 13, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The count was coordinated by the Division of Wildlife, International Crane Foundation, and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative.

During last year’s count, volunteers observed 357 cranes. The 2024 results show a 15% increase in sightings from 2023, likely because of a growing breeding population of sandhill cranes as well as greater survey effort. Volunteers surveyed 32 counties this year and found cranes in 26 of those. The five counties with the most sandhill cranes reported during the 2024 count were Wayne (106), Lucas (56), Geauga (48), Holmes (28), and Richland (27). A full report is available HERE.

Read the entire press release from the ODNR-Division of Wildlife’s website: https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/ohios-spring-2024-sandhill-crane-count-results

Observers reported 357 sandhill cranes in Ohio during the volunteer-driven 2023 Midwest Crane Count on Saturday, April 15, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The count was coordinated by the Division of Wildlife, International Crane Foundation, and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative.

The survey was conducted in 30 pre-selected counties during the crane’s nesting season to monitor Ohio’s growing breeding population of sandhill cranes. Cranes were observed in 24 of those counties. Counties were selected based on the availability of wetland habitat that cranes use for nesting.

The six counties with the most crane sightings during this year’s count were Wayne (96), Lucas (77), Geauga (63), Ottawa (18), Logan (15), and Williams (15). Killbuck Marsh and Funk Bottoms wildlife areas in Wayne County are preferred nesting locations for sandhills. Volunteers searched crane habitat within a 10-square mile survey block. Results were reported via eBird.

This year’s count was the third annual event tracking the status of sandhill cranes in the Buckeye State. During the survey’s inaugural year in 2021, Ohio volunteers observed 160 sandhill cranes across five counties. An expanded count last year recorded more than 300 sandhills in 26 counties.

A list of sandhill cranes found in each of the 30 counties surveyed during Ohio’s 2023 count is shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the number of cranes reported in 2023, and the county’s result from 2022 is shown in parentheses. Counties without parentheses were not previously surveyed. The numbers below are preliminary.

Ashland 1 (7); Columbiana 1 (1); Delaware 4 (5); Erie 0 (1); Fairfield 1; Franklin 10 (2); Fulton 6; Geauga 63 (45); Hardin 2 (4); Holmes 7 (15); Knox 11 (2); Lake 0 (2); Licking 2 (2); Logan 15 (9); Lorain 0 (1); Lucas 77 (47); Mahoning 0 (1); Marion 5 (11); Medina 1; Morrow 2; Ottawa 18 (17); Pickaway 4 (1); Portage 6 (3); Richland 0 (4); Summit 4 (2); Trumbull 3 (22); Tuscarawas 0 (2); Wayne 96 (83); Williams 15 (5); and Wyandot 3 (17).

Observers found 371 sandhill cranes in Ohio as part of the one-day April 2022 Midwest Crane Count, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The count was coordinated by the Division of Wildlife, International Crane Foundation, and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative.

The survey was conducted in 24 preselected counties during the crane’s nesting season. Counties were selected based on the availability of wetland habitat that cranes use for nesting. The top seven counties with the most sightings were Wayne (84), Lucas (60), Geauga (56), Trumbull (47), Holmes (18), Ottawa (17), and Wyandot (17). Volunteers searched crane habitat within a 10-square mile survey block. Results were reported via eBird.

The count was the second of what will be an annual event to track the status of sandhill cranes in the Buckeye State. The count in 2021 found 160 sandhill cranes across five counties. Sandhills can be secretive during the breeding season, and the survey is an effort to better understand Ohio’s breeding population.

Read the entire press release from the ODNR-Division of Wildlife’s website: https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/Sandhill-Crane-Survey-Results

A pilot study was launched in 2021. The count took place on April 17, 2021 and volunteers found 160 sandhill cranes across five counties.