Joel Dinda's photos with the keyword: cranefest

After a time I switched to the V2's native lenses and mostly took pix of the scenery. The end-of-day light was terrific. Taken at Michigan Audubon's Cranefest, Baker Sanctuary (actually, from the neighboring Kiwanis Youth Area), near Bellevue, Michigan.

Michigan Audubon 's Baker Sanctuary 's Big Marsh Lake , taken downhill from the pavilion (or whatever y' call it) at Kiwanis Youth Area, near Bellevue. If you look closely, you'll find Sandhill Cranes in the sky, geese and ducks in the water, and perhaps a couple swans. Don't think there are any cormorants or small birds in this picture, but they show up. We've even seen eagles. Approximately the same view: 2003 , 2005 , & 2006 . I certainly have others from my film days....

South of Bellevue, Michigan. Michigan Audubon's annual CraneFest is next weekend . During October, Big Marsh Lake is one of the premier places for watching Sandhill Cranes. Around sunset thousands of cranes gather at this lake. Taken from the Kiwanis Youth Area a couple years ago. No cranes in this picture, but some time ago I posted another view which hints at the event's beauty.

Imagine, if you will, hundreds of four-foot-tall birds all landing at the same lake on a perfect October evening. This photo will help. Since we missed the 2003 Crane Fest, we spent this evening at Big Marsh Lake and watched the cranes come in with perhaps a hundred other mid-Michigan bird watchers. It was wonderful. If you live anywhere near where these birds congregate, I urge you to spend an evening with Sandhill Cranes. The sights are sublime; the sounds are incredible. Camera: Nikon N90s