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

• October 20 & 21
• October 27 & 28
• November 3 & 4
• November 10 & 11

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

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:

• GOOGLE MAPS – CraneFest XVIII

• YAHOO! MAPS – CraneFest XVIII

• MAPQUEST – CraneFest XVIII

The Sandhill Crane and Art Festival, “CraneFest XIX,” begins at Noon on Saturday, October 12, 2013.  The festival is held at the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, adjacent to the Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary.

CraneFest would not be possible without our generous partners, the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek.  The use of the Kiwanis Youth and Conservation Area makes it possible for visitors to see the cranes fly in and experience other intriguing wildlife in Big Marsh Lake.  Although most of Big Marsh Lake lies within Michigan Audubon’s Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary, the wetland is not visible from the sanctuary itself.  The Conservation and Youth Area, which is adjacent to Baker Sanctuary, provides a great overlook of Big Marsh Lake and is an ideal location for nature hikes and casual wildlife study.

Michigan Audubon thanks everyone that attended CraneFest in 2012.  We hope you had an enjoyable experience, despite the weather.  Set your calendars for October 12 & 13, 2013 when the 19th Annual CraneFest is scheduled to take place again at the Kiwanis Youth and Conservation Area overlooking Baker Sanctuary and Big Marsh Lake.

Sandhill Crane viewing takes place at locations throughout southern lower Michigan.  We recommend visiting Haehnle Sanctuary in Jackson County and the Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary in Calhoun County.  Both properties are owned and managed by Michigan Audubon.

Fall Crane Viewing Details:

• Crane viewing at the Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, adjacent to Baker Sanctuary, begins the weekend after CraneFest, October 20 and 21.  Crane viewing continues every Saturday and Sunday through November 11.  Hours for crane viewing are from 4:00 – 7:00 pm .

  • The Sandhill Cranes at Big Marsh Lake (Baker Sanctuary) are usually 100 – 200 yards in the distance.  Spectacular views of birds can be had with the naked eye, but binoculars will enhance the viewing experience.  Photographers enjoy this site because of the proximity of the viewing station to the birds.
• Crane viewing at Michigan Audubon’s Phyllis Haehnle Sanctuary in Jackson County occurs daily from dawn until dusk.  Members of the Haehnle Stewardship Committee of Jackson Audubon will be available on designated weekends throughout the fall to assist visitors with finding Sandhill Cranes.  The additional opportunity to see an Endangered Whooping Crane may exist at Haehnle Sanctuary.

• The Sandhill Cranes at Haehnle Sanctuary are usually a quarter-mile in the distance.  Binoculars or a spotting scope are highly recommended for watching the birds are this site.

• Haehnle Sanctuary website