Crane Migration
Sandhill Cranes taking flight.
Sandhill Cranes taking flight.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Aperture f/6.3 ISO 400 Shutter 1/1600 Focal Length 400/1 
Grantsburg, Wisconsin, US
Oct, 2019Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in Grantsburg, Wisconsin Near the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area. Crex is a 30,000 acre property that is intensively managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Bureau of Wildlife Management. The cranes stop over on their Fall migration back down south At any one time there are upwards of 5,000 cranes in the Meadows. Birds will stay in the area until the water freezes.Time
To properly photograph the cranes you need to arrive at Sunrise. That is when the magic begins. The birds in mass have spent the night in the boggy areas. As the sun rises the sights and sounds are amazing to experience. The squawking cranes are chattering non stop. Then the lift offs begin. The cranes begin to leave the bog, sometimes in groups of 3, sometimes in groups of 50 or more. It becomes an going vision for over an hour as the cranes lift off to go feed in the neighboring fields. It provides many great photo opportunities with low flying cranes bellowing over you as they fly off. It is worth it to see even if you are not taking photos! This particular photo was taken around 9:30 am. in a nearby cut corn field.Lighting
It was a cloudy morning so I didn't have to worry about the sun or harsh shadows. The snow in the background helped set the birds apart with the golden corn helping as well. Giving us that cold fall morning scene.Equipment
I used my Canon 5d Mark IV - Aperture f/6.3?- ISO 400 - ?Shutter 1/1600?Focal Length 400/1. Actually shot if from my open car window with my pillow one the door to help balance my camera. I shoot in manual mode most often with auto ISO, with the changing background when they are taking flight I dont have time to adjust the ISO on the fly, and shutter speeds above 640 depending on light to help diminish the blur.Inspiration
The cranes are inspirational to me and fun to sit and watch. Most people watch them fly out of the bog and go home. I drive around until I find flocks in the fields. They will bustle and jump up and down with each other from time to time while they pick in the dirt. Other flocks my drop in and join the fun as well. When they decide to leave it's like an explosion of birds and that's the photo that I try to capture with flopping wings and dangling legs all going in the same direction at the same time!Editing
I made some minor lighting adjustments in Photoshop camera raw and softened with some noise reduction..Im not an expert with photoshop so I always strive to get the best exposure I can right in camera.In my camera bag
I always bring along 2 cameras, Canon 5d Mark IV and Canon 7d Mark ii. I have my canon 100-400mm on one camera and my Tamron 150-600mm (version 1) on the other camera. I use a battery pack and always have extra cards. I do carry my tripod with a gimble head and my steady pillow for times when I shoot right from my car window.Feedback
Patience is the key but always be ready. You just never know when they might take off. In this situation most people go to the bog area and watch the cranes fly off at sunrise.. I spend the next several hours finding them in the fields feeding and have the birds all to myself which blows my mind! They are always on private property so you need to stay in your car generally, but you can find a field that provides good lighting for potential shots and they are not that far off the road and will go about their business as you watch. I go back as often as I can to try and shoot the cranes because everyday is different and you never know what you might see. This past fall there was a whooping crane in the area and I got to see and shoot him a few times as well.
