Cranes strengthen themselves in MV for the flight south - Unusual Delay in Baltic Crane Migration Due to Storms
This year's sandhill crane migration across the Baltic Sea is experiencing an unusual delay, with strong storms from the southwest likely causing the hold-up. Typically, cranes gather in specific areas along the coast and inland lakes in Sweden, such as Lake Hornborga, before continuing their journey south in large formations.
Usually, these resting places provide suitable feeding and energy reserves for the cranes before they embark on the long journey. However, this year, only 23,000 cranes were counted at the Baltic coast resting places last weekend, significantly fewer than previous years. Last year, 35,000 cranes were counted, and in 2023, the number reached 61,000.
Despite the delay, about 9,000 cranes remain at Lake Hornborga, expected to fly over the Baltic Sea soon. Cranes are known to fly in distinct '1', 'V', or 'W' formations, led by an experienced bird. Not all cranes migrate south; between 10,000 to 30,000 spend the winter in Germany.
The Baltic coast is one of the largest resting areas for cranes in Europe, but this year's migration has been slower than usual. With strong storms potentially causing the delay, it remains to be seen how many sandhill cranes will make it to their southern destinations in time.
