Whooping cranes or Sandhill cranes, take your pick. They're both discussed here

[doccat5]

We have a heavy influx of Canadian Geese in the area at the moment. The local mall has retention ponds and they do like to hang out around there. Fun to watch em.

[Staff]

Whooping crane deaths alarm wildlife officials
2009 The Associated Press

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6295441.html

AUSTWELL, Texas — Eighteen whooping crane deaths around a South Texas wildlife refuge has made this winter the second-worst for whooper mortality in 20 years.

Another 34 cranes from last year failed to return to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and are presumed dead. Federal wildlife officials say a low food supply and malnutrition appear to be factors.

Tom Stehn of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says one dead juvenile crane had a virus found for the first time in the Aransas flock. The infectious bursal disease had also been found in released cranes in Florida in 2002.

[TheLorax]

That bursa only affects juveniles. Juveniles are key to the success of all the work being done out there with that species. This is horrible news.

[NEWisc]

There's a lot of interesting information about the Whooping Cranes on the International Crane Foundation website; including some location info:
http://www.savingcranes.org/whooping...updates/4.html

[fishlkmich]

I've seen sandhills, geese and the first spring starlings just north of Lansing, Mi. I sighted in my "adult air rifle" on Saturday. It's starling season!

[Equilibrium]

"It's starling season!" You and my husband were made for each other. The simple things in life always appeal to the birder in a man. He is all but rubbing his hands together waiting to seed our lawn.

[fishlkmich]

The first two robins showed up today, along with a lone red-winged blackbird. I also saw two ducks that appeared to be hooded mergansers. I wonder what will happen this year. The ducks were in the water and the screech owl was in the wood duck house above. I suppose that they will sort it all out.

Two red-tailed hawks are attempting to nest on a building in downtown Lansing this year. The nest is in part of the resident peregrine falcon pair's territory. That should be interesting, as well.

[doccat5]

The doves, cardinals, and catbirds are out and about. Had 3 turkey buzzards flying way over head earlier this afternoon. I was so nice.

[TheLorax]

Very first robin today. Hopping around out front on frozen ground. I saw one red winged blackbird atop last year's cat tails two days ago. He was there again staking his claim today. Lonely little fella. Sort of like being at a new bar a month before it opens for business. He's going to be hanging out there by his lonely little self for quite a while.

[rondo769]

We've had robins for about a month now,i was going into town yesterday and saw some snow geese out in the field,at first i thought they were domesticated geese but when i looked through my binoculars(which i always carry with me now)i saw they were snow geese,3 white phase and 2 gray.First time in 33yrs. i have seen snow geese in indiana