Michigan Wine Month Open House | Sandhill Crane Vineyards | Pure Michigan
Michigan Wine Month Open House, April 5, All day long sample goodies made in Michigan and get 10% off all Sandhill wine along with any other products made in Michigan. The cafe will be featuring dishes made with wine, and Matthew Tate will be here in the afternoon playing classical guitar.
Michigan Sandhill Cranes Counted at Dusk, up in numbers
Story by Hannah Ball, video by Tim Jagielo
They come every day around 5 p.m. Hundreds of sandhill cranes with 6- to 8-foot wingspans land on Casey and Jerry Rogers’ property in Deerfield Township on the channel between Bennett and Hoisington lakes. The most recent count by the Audubon Society tallied 501 birds on Oct. 29.
“I thought Jurassic Park landed when I saw all the birds land in September, 11 years ago,” said Casey Rogers. “They look great.”
These gray birds can stand 5 feet in height, with long necks and red featherless foreheads, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). They’ve been coming to the Rogers’ property ever since they moved there, 11 years ago.
“In the past we’ve had about 800,” she said. “In the evening, you can see a lot them coming in, but they land in different spots in the marsh.”
The birds arrive in the spring, travel farther north, and then return in the fall. “The cranes will leave when the snow comes because they can’t get their food,” she said.
Sandhill cranes prefer wetlands, such as marshes and bogs, much like the junction of Bennett and Hoisington lakes, and feed on frogs, fish, insects, and plant food, like seeds, fruit, and aquatic vegetation.
“And they do this dance,” Rogers said. “They’re amazing dancers.”
This dance is their signature mating dance they do once a year. They will flap their wings, bow, jump, and walk around their potential mate.
“They’re beautiful to watch,” Rogers said.
The sandhill crane population was severely reduced by habitat loss and shooting in the early part of the century, according to the MDNR. However, the population has grown over the past two decades. From 1966 to 2013, the population growth rate has been 10.5 percent a year, according to the MDNR.
Most breeding pairs are found in the Upper Peninsula, but there are breeding pairs near Jackson and Ann Arbor.
The Audubon Society counts the sandhill crane population at the Rogers’ property every year, and found that the population is up from last year.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordinates an annual count of the sandhill cranes when they migrate across North America. The two Michigan Audubon sanctuaries are popular destination spots for volunteers who want to help count, according to the Michigan Audubon Society.
At one sanctuary, the Bernard W. Baker Sanctuary in Bellevue, volunteers spotted approximately 3,400 cranes last year in one day.
While a few hundred can barely compare to a few thousand, Rogers said the cranes still attract attention from neighbors and friends. She said they’ve met people who read an article about the birds years ago, and wander around their subdivision looking for the birds.
She happily shows them on her property.
Rogers also wants to invite schools to organize field trips in the area so kids can see and learn about the birds. “I want everyone to enjoy nature as much as I do,” she said.
Jackson, Michigan Wine Tasting
A few weeks ago, we picked up our kids from summer camp in Southeastern Michigan and took the opportunity to visit a few wineries near Jackson. All three wineries are members of the Pioneer Wine Trail.
Lone Oak Vineyard Estate is Southeast Michigan's oldest and largest commercial vineyard, with 12 European grape varieties on a 25 acre site, on the same latitude as the border of Southern France and Northern Spain.
Sandhill Crane Vineyards were our next stop - the winery, tasting room, and café is tucked in among their vineyards in eastern Jackson county. They are currently the only vineyard in SE Michigan to be verified under the Farm*A*Syst program for good environmental stewardship and also make several wines that benefit local nonprofit organizations.
Last but not least, was Chateau Aeronautique Winery - the theme of the Winery is the airpark lifestyle ~ flying, vintage airplanes, and living in a home with hangar on a grass runway surrounded by forests. Chateau Aeronautique Winery was founded on the ideals of creating fine wines from Michigan grapes and offering those wines for tasting in a beautiful, relaxing setting. They also offer the best wine tasting souvenir glasses we've seen to date - an actual full-sized glass!
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IRISH HILLS & LAKE COLUMBIA IN BROOKLYN MICHIGAN
Overview of July 4th weekend in the Irish Hills, Michigan.
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8 Deer Valley Ct. Travelers Rest, SC 29690 - 360 Video
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