Waiting for Sandhills

Crane Fest at Kiwanis Youth Area, on Big Marsh Lake, near Bellevue, Michigan. These are the early-arrivals; I took this before 5:00 pm on Saturday, about 90 minutes before the cranes began arriving in force. That doesn't mean there was nothing to see; ducks and geese and cormorants and other birds keep moving around out there, and some of these folks are serious birders.

If I'd faced the other way, this photo would show the festival portion of the event, a combination art show and educational effort. And an excellent nature book store.

Finally: While there are certainly cranes within this photo's frame, they're too distant to see, even at the original size.