You are invited to the Great Midwest Crane Fest – Celebrating Community and Conservation in Baraboo, Wisconsin. As thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather near the Wisconsin River before flying south for the winter.

Schedule

November 10, 2023

6:00 - 8:00 am : Guided Sunrise Flyover Crane Viewing Tour

Experience the grand spectacle of thousands of Sandhill Cranes leaving the Phil Pines Sandhill Crane Traditional Staging Area! The cranes leave their evening roosting site every morning and head to nearby agricultural fields to forage during the day. This tour is in a prime location to see the cranes and hear the trumpeting of these majestic birds as they head out for breakfast! You can sit in a heated tent with light morning refreshments to enjoy the morning cacophony. Please bring all your crane curiosities, as prominent International Crane Foundation biologists and Aldo Leopold Foundation representatives will host this tour.

3:00 - 5:00 pm : Guided Sunset Crane Viewing Tour

Experience the grand spectacle of thousands of Sandhill Cranes returning to the Phil Pines Sandhill Crane Traditional Staging Area! Every evening, Sandhill Cranes leave their surrounding foraging grounds and return to their historic roosting site on the banks of the Wisconsin River. This tour is in a prime location to see the cranes and hear the trumpeting of these majestic birds as they head back to their roosting site for the evening. You can sit in a heated tent with light refreshments to enjoy the evening cacophony. Please bring all your crane curiosities, as prominent International Crane Foundation biologists and Aldo Leopold Foundation representatives will host this tour.

2:00 - 5:00 pm : Evening Crane Congregation Tour with Dr. Stan Temple

Join us for a crane tour beginning with a presentation on the history and behaviors of Sandhill Cranes from world-renowned ornithologist Dr. Stan Temple, Senior Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Then, join Dr. Temple for an open-air, rustic wagon ride through the floodplain to arrive within a short walk of the viewing blind along the Wisconsin River within the Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area.

2:00 - 5:00 pm : Evening Crane Congregation Tour with Leopold Foundation staff - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

We invite you to spend an evening with the Aldo Leopold Foundation staff to experience the phenomena of crane congregations! The experience will begin with an interactive family-friendly presentation that will reveal the history and wonder of Sandhill Cranes, followed by an open-air wagon ride to our viewing blind on the bank of the Wisconsin River. From the blind, you will witness upwards of 10,000 cranes congregating on the shores.

2:00 - 5:00 pm : Evening Crane Congregation Tour at Riverside Farms with Steve Swenson & Carl Cotter - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Get up close and personal with Sandhill Cranes and experience the crane congregation from a new perspective! The Aldo Leopold Foundation has partnered with a private landowner on the north side of the Wisconsin River to allow festival attendees to view cranes. Enjoy a short shuttle trip to the viewing location and, on the way, learn about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the area’s natural history and our important partnership with the landowners. Upon arrival, you will take a short walk to the viewing blind.

9:00 - 10:00 am : Trusting the Traditional Remedies of Sauk County with Jane Hawley Stevens - Seed Hall, Aldo Leopold Foundation

Join Jane Hawley Stevens to explore the possibilities that native plants contain biochemical compounds designed to work with living bodies to improve health and well-being.

Often dismissed as folklore, herbal remedies were traditional in every culture. If you trust only science, examples of how these pharmacological storehouses support and interact with our biology will be provided. Most fun and exciting, you will learn how common and rare native plants can help improve your well-being every day. Ethical harvesting techniques will be featured. See how a sustainable Sauk County farm cultivates Leopold’s land ethic in the 21st century.

10:00 - 3:00 pm : Guided Nature Hike - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Foundation

Bring your questions and join a seasoned naturalist for a free, one-mile guided walking tour of our Prairie Vista Loop trail! Whether a first-time visitor or a regular patron, participants will enjoy the scenery of our restored oak savanna and tallgrass prairie, some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. This guided nature hike is a great way to learn more about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the land, plants, animals, phenology, ecology and land ethics.

Note: This one-mile hike could be strenuous for some. It will be through varied terrain on improved hiking trails. Please arrive dressed for the appropriate weather conditions.

10:00 am - 2:30 pm : Shack Tour - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

The Shack, a rebuilt chicken coop along the Wisconsin River, is where Aldo Leopold and his family stayed during weekend retreats and is the heart of the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s programs. The landscape surrounding the Leopold Shack and farm informed Leopold’s vision in his conservation classic, A Sand County Almanac, including his call for a “land ethic,” a caring, ethical relationship between people and nature.

Join our seasoned and knowledgeable guides for an hour-and-a-half tour. You will hear stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Leopold and his family, experience the inside of the Shack, and stroll through restored prairie and woods along the Wisconsin River.

Temple

11:00 am - 12:00 pm : The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Then and Now – Is It Still Working? with Dr. Stan Temple - Seed Hall, Aldo Leopold Foundation

In 2016, we marked the centenary of the “Convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the Protection of Migratory Birds” (better known as the Migratory Bird Treaty). The 1916 treaty became the cornerstone of our national commitment to conserve birds. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 implements the landmark 1916 treaty, and together the treaty and act form one of the world’s oldest and most enduring bird conservation measures. They have been responsible for the spectacular recoveries of many species, like the Sandhill Crane.

But threats to migratory birds today challenge the effectiveness of these milestones. Loss and degradation of habitat, collisions with human-made structures, cat predation, pesticide poisoning, and oil spills cause the deaths of hundreds of millions of migratory birds each year. Are these century-old actions up to protecting birds against 21st-century threats?

Join Professor Stan Temple as he recounts the first century of migratory bird protection and speculates about the future.

1:00 - 2:00 pm : Leopold’s Life and Legacy with Curt Meine - Seed Hall, Aldo Leopold Foundation

3:30 - 4:30 pm : Barn Quilts, Leopold and Our Rural Plant Communities with Max Sorenson - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Join the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s Max Sorenson for a discussion of the contemporary barn quilt movement, Leopold’s land aesthetic and our relationship to plants in rural places. You will leave this hands-on workshop with a small-scale, plant-inspired, cut-paper barn quilt!

4:00 - 5:00 pm : Guided Green Building Tour - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Built to the highest energy efficiency and sustainability standards, the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center uses some of the most innovative materials and systems ever integrated into commercial construction in the United States. When newly constructed, it was the greenest building in the U.S. and continues to maintain its excellent Platinum level certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. Join us for an hour-long building tour and learn what makes this space so unique and green! With features like thermal flux zones, geothermal systems, and more than 500 sensors monitoring energy use, you will see why the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center was the first net zero energy building in Wisconsin and why it is a shining example of the Land Ethic in the 21st century.

9:00 10:00 am : Guided Cranes of the World Tour – Crane Behavior 101 - Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

Tour participants will learn about complex crane behavior, including the basics of crane anatomy, how to identify different behaviors, the practice of costume-rearing crane chicks and stories about the International Crane Foundation’s global work.

9:15 - 2:30 pm : Guided Prairie Walk - Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead, International Crane Foundation

Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. The trails cover a diverse landscape that reflects over 30 years of restoration efforts. Guests will experience a variety of native ecosystems, including oak savanna, native prairie and wetlands, while learning about the site’s restoration and land management. The total walking distance for this guided tour will be around 1 mile.

10:30 - 11:30 am : Whooping Cranes in the Eastern Migratory Population with Stephanie Schmidt - Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Whooping Cranes, once native across North America, faced near extinction in the 1940s due to increased threats from habitat loss, hunting and more. It wasn’t until 2001 that Whooping Cranes returned to the eastern United States following a collaborative reintroduction program led by the International Crane Foundation and partners. Today, there are around 76 Whooping Cranes in this population, most of which breed in central Wisconsin each year.

Please join Stephanie Schmidt, Whooping Crane Outreach Coordinator for the International Crane Foundation, to learn about the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population and the work the Foundation and partners are doing to safeguard the species’ future. Following this presentation, you will be able to identify Whooping Cranes by sight and sound, understand the historic threats that led to the species’ decline, learn more about the reintroduction program and the current work to protect Whooping Cranes in Wisconsin and throughout their flyways, and discover how you can be an ambassador for cranes in Wisconsin.

11:45 - 12:30 pm : Mates for Life Film and Q&A With the Director - George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

Mates for Life is a unique performing arts film series inspired by species that mate for life – in this first film, the Whooping Crane. This dance interpretation inspired by crane movements aims to engage supporters of both conservation and the arts. Join Director Tim Whalen for this Mates for Life film showcase, as well as a look into the behind-the-scenes process, from early concepts and choreography to the planning and production of the project. A Q&A session with the director will follow.

12:00 - 1:00 pm : Guided Cranes of the World Tour – North American Cranes - Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

This tour focuses on the two North American cranes, the Sandhill and Whooping Crane, their unique natural histories and recovery from low population numbers. Participants will learn about the history and ecology of both species, the importance of wetlands, and how international cooperation is used to protect vital crane habitats.

1:00 - 2:00 pm : The Health of Cranes – Avian Medicine in Conservation with Dr. Barry Hartup - Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

How do you safely capture an endangered Whooping Crane in a salt marsh? How do you know when a bird — let alone a large one such as a crane — is not feeling well? Dr. Hartup will show how he has conducted his work for over 20 years with the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and with partners abroad.

3:00 - 4:00 pm : M?? Wak?c?k: Visual Connections to Sacred Land with Melanie Tallmadge Sainz - Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Melanie Tallmadge Sainz was born in Baraboo and raised in the Wisconsin Dells area. Her roots in the cultural tourism of the 1960s – 80s helped to shape her into a cultural arts educator and advocate for authentic Native arts. After a successful career in Native museums and exhibitions, education, and social justice activism in the desert Southwest, Melanie now blends her passion for creative community building and art making in her Ho-Chunk homeland of south-central Wisconsin. In this presentation, you will explore a true American art form, porcupine quill embroidery. Learn the sustainable practice of working with quills and other indigenous fibers, and witness how Melanie uses these materials to act as vehicles of social commentary within her Endangered Wildflowers pouch series and Hero/She-ro portrait series. Explore a place named Maa Wakacak (Ho-Chunk place name, English translation: Sacred Land) and see the effect of its inspirational spirit of reconciliation on Melanie’s recent public art installations.

2:30 - 3:30 pm : Guided Cranes of the World Tour – Continent of Cranes - Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

The East Asian Flyway is home to nine species of cranes, and although culturally revered, many are threatened or endangered. During this guided tour, participants will learn about the variety of cranes found on the Asian continent, discover the historic role cranes have played in various Asian cultures, and learn about the International Crane Foundation’s projects in Asia.

November 11, 2023

6:00 - 8:00 am : Guided Sunrise Flyover Crane Viewing Tour

Experience the grand spectacle of thousands of Sandhill Cranes leaving the Phil Pines Sandhill Crane Traditional Staging Area! The cranes leave their evening roosting site every morning and head to nearby agricultural fields to forage during the day. This tour is in a prime location to see the cranes and hear the trumpeting of these majestic birds as they head out for breakfast! You can sit in a heated tent with light morning refreshments to enjoy the morning cacophony. Please bring all your crane curiosities, as prominent International Crane Foundation biologists and Aldo Leopold Foundation representatives will host this tour.

3:00 - 5:00 pm : Guided Sunset Crane Viewing Tour

Experience the grand spectacle of thousands of Sandhill Cranes returning to the Phil Pines Sandhill Crane Traditional Staging Area! Every evening, Sandhill Cranes leave their surrounding foraging grounds and return to their historic roosting site on the banks of the Wisconsin River. This tour is in a prime location to see the cranes and hear the trumpeting of these majestic birds as they head back to their roosting site for the evening. You can sit in a heated tent with light refreshments to enjoy the evening cacophony. Please bring all your crane curiosities, as prominent International Crane Foundation biologists and Aldo Leopold Foundation representatives will host this tour.

2:00 - 5:00 pm : Evening Crane Congregation Tour with Dr. Stan Temple - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Join us for a crane tour beginning with a presentation on the history and behaviors of Sandhill Cranes from world-renowned ornithologist Dr. Stan Temple, Senior Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Then, join Dr. Temple for an open-air, rustic wagon ride through the floodplain to arrive within a short walk of the viewing blind along the Wisconsin River within the Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area.

2:00 - 5:00 pm : Evening Crane Congregation Tour with Leopold Foundation Staff - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

We invite you to spend an evening with the Aldo Leopold Foundation staff to experience the phenomena of crane congregations! The experience will begin with an interactive family-friendly presentation that will reveal the history and wonder of Sandhill Cranes, followed by an open-air wagon ride to our viewing blind on the bank of the Wisconsin River. From the blind, you will witness upwards of 10,000 cranes congregating on the shores.

2:00 - 5:00 pm : Evening Crane Congregation Tour at Riverside Farms with Steve Swenson & Carl Cotter - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Get up close and personal with Sandhill Cranes and experience the crane congregation from a new perspective! The Aldo Leopold Foundation has partnered with a private landowner on the north side of the Wisconsin River to allow festival attendees to view cranes. Enjoy a short shuttle trip to the viewing location and, on the way, learn about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the area’s natural history and our important partnership with the landowners. Upon arrival, you will take a short walk to the viewing blind.

9:00 - 10:00 am : Fire Ecology and Leopold Leadership with Dr. Jed Meunier - Seed Hall, Aldo Leopold Foundation

Fire performs an incredibly important role in our natural landscapes and largely has a negative connotation in our culture today. Learn about the history of prescribed fire in the Midwest and Aldo Leopold’s role in bringing fire ecology back into the limelight.  

10:00 - 3:00 pm : Guided Nature Hike - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Foundation

Bring your questions and join a seasoned naturalist for a free, one-mile guided walking tour of our Prairie Vista Loop trail! Whether a first-time visitor or a regular patron, participants will enjoy the scenery of our restored oak savanna and tallgrass prairie, some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. This guided nature hike is a great way to learn more about the work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the land, plants, animals, phenology, ecology and land ethics.

Note: This one-mile hike could be strenuous for some. It will be through varied terrain on improved hiking trails. Please arrive dressed for the appropriate weather conditions.

11:00 am - 12:00 pm : Nature Journaling with Susan Kilmer - Seed Hall, Aldo Leopold Foundation

With a focus on the science of phenology, nature journaling can provide an enjoyable way to mark your days and understand the natural world around you. Following in the footsteps of Aldo Leopold and the Leopold family, we’ll briefly trace the history of Leopold’s phenological record-keeping and discover how you can record your own. Susan Kilmer, Development Manager at the Aldo Leopold Foundation, has provided workshops on nature journaling and native seed collecting and identification at the UW-Madison Arboretum and Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

10:00 am - 2:30 pm : Shack Tour - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

The Shack, a rebuilt chicken coop along the Wisconsin River, is where Aldo Leopold and his family stayed during weekend retreats and is the heart of the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s programs. The landscape surrounding the Leopold Shack and farm informed Leopold’s vision in his conservation classic, A Sand County Almanac, including his call for a “land ethic,” a caring, ethical relationship between people and nature.

Join our seasoned and knowledgeable guides for an hour-and-a-half tour. You will hear stories about the pioneering restoration work initiated by Leopold and his family, experience the inside of the Shack, and stroll through restored prairie and woods along the Wisconsin River.

1:00 - 2:00 pm : Ajijaak: Ojibwe Lessons from the Crane with Dr. Patty Loew - Seed Hall, Aldo Leopold Foundation

Dr. Patty Loew, Mashkiiziibii Ojibwe (Bad River Band), talks about her community’s relationship with two cherished relatives – Ajijaak the Sandhill Crane and manoomin or wild rice – and shares Ojibwe teachings learned from them.

4:00 - 5:00 pm : Guided Green Building Tour - Meet at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center

Built to the highest energy efficiency and sustainability standards, the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center uses some of the most innovative materials and systems ever integrated into commercial construction in the United States. When newly constructed, it was the greenest building in the U.S. and continues to maintain its excellent Platinum level certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Join us for an hour-long building tour and learn what makes this space so unique and green! With features like thermal flux zones, geothermal systems, and more than 500 sensors monitoring energy use, you will see why the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center was the first net zero energy building in Wisconsin and why it is a shining example of the Land Ethic in the 21st century.

This tour focuses on the two North American cranes, the Sandhill and Whooping Crane, their unique natural histories and recovery from low population numbers. Participants will learn about the history and ecology of both species, the importance of wetlands, and how international cooperation is used to protect vital crane habitats.

9:15 - 10:15 am : The Ecology of Oak Woodland Restoration with Maia Persche - Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Woodland restoration offers an important opportunity for ensuring the persistence of native Wisconsin biodiversity. However, understanding how open woodland management treatments, such as prescribed fire and tree thinning, affect forest species can be challenging. In this talk, Maia Persche will describe a muti-trophic field study in the Baraboo Hills (Sauk Co., Wisconsin) aimed at understanding the effects of oak woodland management on understory microclimates, plant communities, forest arthropods, insectivorous birds, and even woodland soundscapes. Results from three field seasons indicate that woodland restoration can play an important role in bird conservation in southern Wisconsin.

9:30 am - 2:30 pm : Guided Prairie Walk - Meet at the Branch Family Trailhead, International Crane Foundation

Explore the International Crane Foundation’s beautiful trails during this guided prairie walk. The trails cover a diverse landscape that reflects over 30 years of restoration efforts. Guests will experience a variety of native ecosystems, including oak savanna, native prairie and wetlands, while learning about the site’s restoration and land management.

10:45 - 11:30 am : Mates for Life Film and Q&A With the Director - George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

Mates for Life is a unique performing arts film series inspired by species that mate for life – in this first film, the Whooping Crane. This dance interpretation inspired by crane movements aims to engage supporters of both conservation and the arts. Join Director Tim Whalen for this Mates for Life film showcase, as well as a look into the behind-the-scenes process, from early concepts and choreography to the planning and production of the project. A Q&A session with the director will follow.

11:00 am - 1:00 pm : Writing With Light – A Photography Workshop with Michael Forsberg - Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Join award-winning conservation photographer Michael Forsberg for a two-hour nature photography workshop. This workshop can help improve your photography while you explore the quality of light, helpful tools for composition, and how to tell a story through your photos. The first hour of this workshop will be indoors, and the second hour will take place outdoors (weather permitting). Whether you take photos with a fancy camera or on your phone, this class is open to everyone.


12:00 - 1:00 pm : Guided Cranes of the World Tour – Continent of Cranes - Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

The East Asian Flyway is home to nine species of cranes, and although culturally revered, many are threatened or endangered. During this guided tour, participants will learn about the variety of cranes found on the Asian continent, discover the historic role cranes have played in various Asian cultures, and learn about the International Crane Foundation’s projects in Asia.

12:30 - 1:30 pm : Birding is for Everyone – A Look Into the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin with Dr. Jeff Galligan - Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

Join BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin Co-Founder Dr. Jeff Galligan for this engaging and educational session on how you can help make your local birding community more welcome for all birders. Dr. Galligan will discuss what his club – as a community of People of Color and Allies – is doing to increase diversity and access to the birding community, and how they are addressing issues of equity in Wisconsin. Dr. Galligan will recount stories from his time founding the club, the club’s events, and present tips on how to make birding events more inclusive.

2:30 - 3:30 pm : Celebrating Cranes at Festivals in Bhutan and Mongolia with Dr. George Archibald - Ron Sauey Memorial Library, International Crane Foundation

International Crane Foundation Co-Founder George Archibald has been a driving force behind the creation of crane celebration festivals across the globe. Every November, thousands of Bhutanese locals travel to Bhutan’s Gangtey Goemba Monastery to celebrate the arrival of Black-necked cranes. In Mongolia, hundreds of people flock to the Binder Crane Festival in Khentii province to celebrate White-naped Cranes. Join George as he recounts the stories of how these festivals began and the amazing events that make these celebrations unique.

3:00 - 4:00 pm : Guided Cranes of the World Tour – Crane Behavior 101 - Meet at the George Archibald Welcome Center Theater, International Crane Foundation

Tour participants will learn about complex crane behavior, including the basics of crane anatomy, how to identify different behaviors, the practice of costume-rearing crane chicks and stories about the International Crane Foundation’s global work.

Date : November 10 - 11, 2023

Location : International Crane Foundation - E11376 Shady Lane Rd Baraboo, WI 53913

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