We are planning to go to Kankakee Sands and Jasper-Pulaski on November 25. Last year when we went we hit a good weekend with almost 32,000 Sandhill Cranes there. Let's hope for 2 in a row!
Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area includes 8,179 acres of wetland, upland and woodland game habitat. The property's habitat provides an ideal stopover for migratory birds. More than 10,000 sandhill cranes stop here during fall migration.
One of the spectacles in nature that's close by is the Sandhill Crane migration in the fall, with tens of thousands stopping at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area near Medaryville, Indiana (NW area). During the day, the cranes feed in nearby farm fields, bugling, dancing and interacting with each other. Just before sunset, they fly into the preserve to roost, with the setting sun as a backdrop, putting on quite a show. With cooperative weather (and cranes), we should have an opportunity for some nice sunset shots..
NOTE: Our president put all times as CST, although many times we will be in EST. He’s hoping this cuts the confusion down about what time it is.
Agenda:
6:30AM CST Leave Casey’s in Urbana on Rt 150.
There is an Amoco station just north of Morocco for a restroom stop.
8:30AM CST Arrive at Kankakee Sands, bison viewing platform. After that, we will do the driving tour, and possibly hike the trails. Most of these are fairly short.
NOON CST drive to J-P
1:00 PM Arrive at Jasper-Pulaski main office then explore the area. NOTE: there are modern 24 hr restrooms at the main office for Jasper-Pulaski.
3:00 PM CST arrive at the Sandhill Crane Platform
Moonrise 3:10pm CST Moonrise
Sunset :4:22 pm CST
6:00 PM CST Moon in East, 28 degrees altitude
In planning for the Sandhill Crane outing, our president looked up the statistics for the sun and moon that day. These stats are all for Jasper-Pulaski area.
Sunset: 5:22 pm CST @247 degrees (WSW)
Moonrise: 4:09 pm CST @ 70.7 degrees (ENE) 97.3% illumination
6PM CST 95 degrees azimuth (E), 28 degree altitude
Our president has provided a link to the trails and a driving tour of Kankakee Sands.
You can see the Driving tour and the overall Brochure.
Other possibilities:
Prairie Border Wildlife Preserve (near J-P)
Stoutsberg Savannah (1.5 mile trail)