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This study was conducted by Gary L. Ivey of Annual Travels of the International Crane Foundation and his Sandhill Cranes assistant Caroline P. Herziger. We are grateful Fairbanks to the people of Homer who kindly granted us from Homer, Alaska

Anchorage permission to trap on their land. Funding was provided primarily by Kachemak Bay Crane Homer Juneau Watch, with additional support from Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, in Corvallis, OR, and U.S. Homer is in south-central Alaska, southwest of Anchorage, on the Kenai Peninsula. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research

Every April, Lesser Sandhill Cranes return here Center, in Dixon, CA. for the summer from wintering areas in Cali- fornia. Their behavior is unique in that they are For more information about cranes visit: fairly tame, often feeding in people’s yards, and International Crane Foundation sometimes even looking into their windows. www.savingcranes.org

Crane Banding Kachemak Bay Crane Watch Kachemak Bay In August 2008, we captured ten cranes near www.cranewatch.org Crane Watch Homer to learn more about their migration paths and winter areas. Satellite transmit - ters were placed on the crane’s legs to track their locations, as well as unique color bands for visual identification. Loca- INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION tion data were downloaded E11376 Shady Lane Road P.O. box 447 to a computer and opened in Baraboo, WI 53913-0447, USA Google Earth to display the 608-356-9462 • 608-356-9465 fax crane’s movements. www.savingcranes.org Inspiring a Global Community INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION

Crane Movements Nine cranes continued to use the Homer area after capture. Some selected only one site, while others were wider-ranging. Most roosted at night at the Beluga Lake site. Feeding areas extended from Diamond Ridge in the west to the north- east end of Kachemak Bay.

McNeil Beaver Creek Flats ay B Fritz Creek k ma he Ohlson Mt ac K Skyline Dr Diamond Ridge Stone Steps Wasabi East Hill Beluga Lake Homer Migration 5 miles After leaving Homer in September to migrate to their winter areas, the cranes flew northeast, to the One crane traveled further north to the Anchor upper Kenai Peninsula. Most staged (rested) at the Point, Ninilchik, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Chickaloon Bay and/or Portage Valley areas for a and Caribou Lake areas (see orange shaded area couple days. on figure). It moved about 120 miles in 40 days The cranes continued south along the Alaska coast around the southern Kenai Peninsula before and through British Columbia and the western U.S. migrating. to winter in four areas south of Sacramento, California.

let In A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A HOMER CRANE Cook Spring Anchorage Kenai migration Ba National Chickaloon 15% Prince Ninilchi k Wildlife y William Summer range Refuge Kenai Portag e t Sound le Peninsula Valley In k o o Caribou Lake C area

Homer Gulf of Alaska y Anchor Ba k Point ma h e Fall migration ac K 20 miles Winter range 7% Home r 40% 10 miles