Sandhill Crane & Art Festival

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.

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.