Over the past couple of days groups of sandhill cranes have been reported in the on their way back from Canadian breeding grounds. Their migratory movements from there can carry them over Ohio, especially in our southwest. They may pass over quite high, but their groups often talk in flight, and call attention to their passing. Both of America's cranes, the sandhill and the whooping, follow roughly similar routes on migration. Their appearances vary, with young birds more similar than the adults; adult whoopers are prominent, being larger, whiter (even the young are paler). Care should be taken; some experts--Audubon was one--regarded the cranes to be of one species. The whooping crane is NOT on Ohio's official list, for lack of a specimen. I believe this is a mistake, and I hope to help remedy this confusion. Sight observations won't do it, nor will calls; a specimen is called for. Unfortunately Ohio specimens of whoopers are hard to find, even though there are many reports from the old days. Anyway, the migration has begun in earnest, and what remains of crane movements are possible. Keep your ears and eyes ready......... Bill Whan ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]