COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans may want to keep their eyes on the skies this fall. Volunteer observers reported 428 sandhill cranes during the 2025 Midwest Crane Count, marking a steady increase in the state’s crane population, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The coordinated count, led by ODNR alongside the International Crane Foundation and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, revealed a 4% jump from 2024’s total of 412 cranes. Birds were spotted in 24 of the 31 counties surveyed, with Wayne County leading the way at 101 reports. Other top counties included Lucas (97), Ottawa (59), Geauga (51), and Sandusky (19).
Since its launch in 2021, the Midwest Crane Count has grown each year. Ohio’s numbers highlight that expansion:
- 2025: 428 cranes (31 counties surveyed)
- 2024: 412 cranes (32 counties)
- 2023: 357 cranes (30 counties)
- 2022: 311 cranes (26 counties)
- 2021: 160 cranes (five counties)
Surveyors conduct the count during the cranes’ nesting season, focusing on wetland-rich areas. Killbuck Marsh and Funk Bottoms wildlife areas in Wayne County, along with Lake Erie’s western marshes, remain prime breeding grounds.
The sandhill crane, a tall wading bird with gray plumage and a red forehead patch, is well-known for its rolling bugle call. Though once gone from Ohio, cranes returned to Wayne County in 1987 and have slowly expanded. Despite recent gains, they remain listed as a threatened species in the state.
Wildlife officials encourage bird enthusiasts to support conservation by purchasing the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, which funds habitat restoration, research, and protection of endangered and threatened species.
