Greetings!

To add to the recent posts about Sandhill Cranes, I had two separate
instances on Saturday (Dec 29th) when I heard Sandhills "bugling" overhead
from my property in the southwest corner of Athens County (not too far from
the Athens/Vinton Co line).  Unfortunately, neither time did I see the
birds, but the sound was, of course, unmistakeable.  The first bugling
occurred around 11:00 a.m., and it sounded like a sizeable flock.  As best I
could tell, they sounded like they were heading south.  Once I was able to
get down my driveway, I drove to some nearby agricultural areas (corn
fields) to see if they might have touched down, but I wasn't able to leave
home until almost an hour after I heard them, so the trail was mighty cold
by then.   They could have been in West Virginia by then, for all I know! 
Needless to say, no luck in finding them.  The second instance occurred
around 4pm, and this time it only sounded like a handful of birds.  Both
times I just happened to be stepping outside to do something and their
calling immediately caught my ears.

Although I came up empty-handed for cranes during my reconnaissance drive, I
did observe 2 separate American Kestrels - one of them in a spot that has
always been reliable, and the second in a new spot that has become reliable
in the last 2 months or so.  

May you all have great birding times in 2013!

Good birding,
Heather Aubke
Albany, OH

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