Fall Crane Viewing at Big Marsh Lake

11 Oct

Thank you to everyone who attended the Sandhill Crane & Art Festival, “CraneFest XVII,” on October 8 & 9, 2011.

The Kiwanis Youth and Conservation Area will be open for crane-viewing on the following days:

  • October 15 & 16
  • October 22 & 23
  • October 29 & 30
  • November 5 & 6
  • November 12 & 13

Viewing of the Sandhill Cranes from the Kiwanis property takes place between 4 and 7 pm.  The property is not open on weekdays.

Directions to CraneFest

6 Oct
Viewing Sandhill Cranes in Big Marsh Lake

Viewing Sandhill Cranes in Big Marsh Lake

The Sandhill Crane & Art Festival, “CraneFest XVII,” takes place at the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, near the Village of Bellevue, Michigan, on Saturday and Sunday, October 8 and 9, beginning at Noon each day.

The street address for the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area is: 22300 15 Mile Rd  Bellevue, Michigan 49021

The following popular Internet mapping options show the location of the event site and allow users to get directions by entering the address of your current location:

See you at the festival!

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CraneFest XVII Programs

4 Oct

CraneFest October 8 & 9

Here’s a taste of what’s in store for CraneFest XVII visitors this weekend:

  • Weather
    • Saturday, October 8 – 77-degrees and sunny
    • Sunday, October 9 – 76-degrees and sunny
  • Self-guided opportunities
    • Artist village featuring the work of 30 Michigan artists
    • Sandhill Crane migration game NEW
    • Birdwatching from the Kiwanis Youth Area
    • Birdwatching at the Baker Sanctuary’s Meadow and Marshlands Trail
  • Guided / Instructor-led programs
    • Drop-in “Birdwatching 101″ with Grand Rapids Audubon Club member, Gene Schmidt
    • Naturalist-led hikes of the Kiwanis property; topics vary
    • Drop-in origami paper crane-folding class led by MSU Asian Studies program
  • Miscellaneous “stuff to do”
    • Birdy bird crafts
    • Heritage Hay Rides with the Holcomb family
    • Live birds of prey with the Michigan Hawking Club
    • Hillside educational talks
    • “Natural history of the Sandhill Crane” presentations (just before dusk)
  • CRANE VIEWING The best time to see the cranes is when they are arriving at the sanctuary, just before dusk.  Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and binoculars to enjoy this spectacular event as it unfolds.
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