The majestic Whooping Crane, currently on the endangered species list, paid the beautiful RM of Medstead a special visit April 18, and they seem to be stick around. These birds have been on the endangered list for many years now, with population numbers having dipped as low as 21 in 1941. Currently, according to Nature Canada, the population has risen to a global total of roughly 300. It is hoped that this number will continue to rise.
Though the rising population is seen as hopeful, the cranes do not have their future guaranteed. Their numbers have been growing gradually over the years, but the birds are very sensitive to human interaction and have been in an uphill battle over the last few decades. Various conservation groups are very vocal as to the need to keep these glorious creatures protected.
Whooping cranes are the tallest birds in North America at almost one and a half meters in height. They boast an ability to fly without stopping for ten hours, covering over seven hundred kilometers. During migration, this species is known to eat grain from farm crops. Perhaps this is why they were seen in the thriving farmland of the RM of Medstead.
Part of the magic lies in the fact that, though Saskatchewan has been a breeding ground for these creatures in the past, they have mostly been seen in the area of Midnight Lake, near Glaslyn. Reportedly, however, their primary locations are Wood Buffalo National Park (near the Alberta-Northwest Territories border) and down to the Texas Gulf Coast for their wintering. It is a special treat when any person has the chance to see these rare birds.
Local resident, Eric Fevang was out for a drive with his daughter and chanced to see the beautiful creatures just outside of the village. Five massive birds dipped in and out of the melt water as their uniquely decorated wings flapped in unison. Fevang says, “I’d never got a chance to see these beautiful birds before, but I was eager to have the chance to see them in Saskatchewan because I heard that they migrate through this area. I was lucky enough to get to show my daughter these stunning animals.”
It is clear that the global bird population is becoming aware of what local residents know to be true, that Medstead is a beautiful and peaceful community for both those who visit and those who come to stay.
