Sandhill Cranes

One beautiful bird, and I spotted five of them the other day on my way to Willow Creek Community Church for a morning conference event. But 30,000!

CHICAGO — Chicago birders went wild Wednesday when thousands of sandhill cranes flew over the city.

The birds were a rare sight over city limits a decade ago, but they’ve become far more common lately due to protection of their wetland habitat.

Members in the IL Birders Exchanging Thoughts group reported seeing the birds over Lincoln Park Zoo, Old Town School of Music, Soldier Field, other Lake Michigan spots, Bucktown (Damen and North), West Ridge, University of Chicago and elsewhere in the city. Some of the birders estimated as many as 30,000 cranes flew over the city Wednesday.