WQIO Ohio's Super Station
Volunteers in Knox County joined birdwatchers across the state this spring to help monitor one of Ohio’s most remarkable wildlife success stories.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, volunteers counted 344 sandhill cranes during the 2026 Midwest Crane Count, an annual survey that helps biologists monitor the state’s growing crane population. Locally, volunteers documented one sandhill crane in Knox County, down from 11 observed during the 2025 count.
The annual census is coordinated by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, and the International Crane Foundation. Volunteers visit designated wetlands and grasslands during the early morning hours to count cranes and document their locations.
Once nearly eliminated from Ohio because of habitat loss and unregulated hunting, sandhill cranes have made a steady comeback over the past several decades as wetlands have been restored and conservation efforts expanded.
Wildlife officials say annual counts help biologists better understand population trends, nesting success and habitat use while guiding future conservation efforts throughout the state.
Although Knox County’s total declined from last year, officials note that crane numbers can fluctuate depending on weather, water levels and nesting activity. The annual survey remains an important tool in tracking one of Ohio’s largest native bird species and measuring the success of long-term conservation efforts.
