Before I accidentally stumbled on a pair of sandhill cranes earlier this summer, I rarely spotted them around. Now that I know where to look, I see them a lot more often. Typically I only see two or three at a time, and usually in short corn or soy bean fields, but now I think I may have found their favorite local watering hole, which as a bonus, made for great landscapes.

Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.
Sandhill Cranes and their habitat photographed by David J. Manning on September 28, 2026.