Guide: Matt Igleski, Executive Director of Chicago Bird Alliance, and Julie Bonnema, Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society

Cost: $35

Included in the trip is transportation from the meeting location to the crane observation area and back, with birding stops in between and a guide with a scope.

Maximize your crane experience by joining CBA and Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society on a van trip down to see the Sandhill Crane migration at Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area. We will drive back roads on the way to the Sandhill Crane nighttime gathering location, looking for more Sandhill Cranes, as well as Whooping Cranes, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Shrike, Golden Eagles, and other winter visitors to our region. When we arrive at the Sandhill Crane Observation Area, there will be an open house event being hosted by Indiana Audubon and the International Crane Foundation.

Jasper-Pulaski is a major stopover site for migrating Sandhill Cranes in the fall, with numbers reaching over 30,000 birds at the peak. The cranes feed in the surrounding fields all day and then come to the viewing area in the evening to roost in the adjacent fields and woodlands.

We will meet at the East Chicago South Shore Line Parking Lot. You can either take the South Shore line down to meet, or drive there and leave your car for free. Our first stop will be about 45 minutes from departing at noon, and we’ll be mostly birding from the van. We will probably get out a couple of times during our van birding leg of the trip. When we arrive at the Sandhill Crane Observation Area, we will be outside and mostly standing for about 1.5 hours.

Meals

Please plan to eat an early lunch or bring it with you. We may make one quick stop at a gas station, but we don’t plan to stop anywhere for a meal.

What to bring

• Dress for the weather–bring lots of layers, hats, gloves, etc. it can often be windy or snowy this time of year

• Binoculars

• Field Guide

• Spotting Scope

• Camera

• Filled Water Bottle

• Snacks

Meeting Location

East Chicago South Shore Line Parking Lot

5615 Indianapolis Blvd

East Chicago, IN 46320 

Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KN1ioWDbQhf2sPeS6 

Public Transportation

The South Shore Line runs to and from Millennium Station.

South Shore Line Website: https://mysouthshoreline.com/

November 22nd 

• Train #505 Leaves Millennium Station at 10:45 am and arrives in East Chicago at 11:28 am.

• Train #510 Leaves East Chicago at 6:10 pm and arrives at Millennium Station at 6:56 pm

• Train #612 Leaves East Chicago at 7:47 pm and arrives at Millennium Station at 8:34 pm

Driving

There is ample, free parking at the East Chicago South Shore Line lot.

Itinerary

12:00 pm CST Depart the East Chicago South Shore Station Line 

1-3:30 pm CST Birding by van

3:30-4:45 pm CST Observe cranes from the observation tower

4:45 pm CST Depart Sandhill Observation Area

6:00 pm CST Arrive back at East Chicago South Shore Line Station