Right now thousands of migrating sandhill cranes are gathering at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area  near Medaryville, Ind., about an hour’s drive east of Momence.

Some 4,000 cranes have are already roosting in the protected marshes at the preserve and can be seen daily foraging and “dancing” on open field around the preserve.

The numbers will continue to climb, averaging around 10,000 cranes as the migration peaks by mid November.

The 8,062 acres of Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area offer a unique opportunity for viewing the cranes as they forage and rest for the next stage of their migratory flight. Two observation towers provide great viewing points to see thousands of sandhill cranes foraging and socializing on the nearby goose pasture.

The cranes will also fan out during the daytime to explore nearby farm fields for any corn left from the harvest.

The most exciting time to view the spectacular flight of the cranes is at sunrise and sunset. Gigantic flocks  leave the nearby marshes around sunrise and wing their way to the goose pasture before heading on to neighborign fields. Toward sunset the flocks return, gathering on the goose pasture, then flying back past the observation decks to the shelter of the marshes.

Click HERE for an on-line map of  the  Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area.