Sandhill Crane

The Sandhill Crane is an uncommon to rare breeder in the Chicago Wilderness Region. Breeding habitat includes secluded, vegetated marshes and ponds. Once common in Illinois, Sandhill Cranes more or less disappeared from the state in the late 1800s and were not rediscovered breeding until about 1980 when they were found nesting in northern Lake County. They have since spread into other areas in the CW Region. The latest BCN Survey results continue to show a significant moderate increase for this species. Photo: © Eric Secker