Why the Crane?

Crane’s View Podcast was started in New Mexico just before the arrival of Sandhill Cranes. Every year people await the arrival of the Sandhill Cranes in the fall with bated breath and are sad to see them go in the spring. Due to their migratory patterns, the Sandhill Crane will see much of Canada, the U.S, and Mexico. In the winter months, they range from New Mexico, Texas, California, Arizona, and even to Mexico, and in late spring, summer, and early fall they can be seen in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with some sandhill cranes, even migrating to Oregon, Idaho, Canada, and Alaska. Sandhill Cranes truly see a great extent of North America. Like the Sandhill Cranes, our podcast will also cover a large area of ground.

Not only do Sandhill cranes see a large part of North America, but they have also been a part of the ecosystem for millions of years. A crane fossil found in Nebraska was estimated to be around 10 million years old and is thought to be a close relative of the modern Sandhill Crane. The earliest confirmed remains of a Sandhill Cranes are estimated to be around 2 million years old. Given both these dates, some scientists even estimate that modern Sandhill Cranes are around 6 million years old. Not only have Sandhill Cranes been a part of the ecosystem for millions of years, but they also are still an active part of the current ecosystem and environment. Making Sandhill Cranes deeply intertwined with much of North America, and the greater Rio Grande Watershed which inspired this podcast.