More than 14,000 Sandhill Cranes along with several pairs of Whooping Cranes spend the winter each year at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, and to celebrate the winter migration of these long-legged and long-necked birds, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge hosts the Festival of the Cranes. Over the years, this annual festival has grown to include events at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, the Cook Museum of Natural Science, the Princess Theatre, Delano Park, Carnegie Visual Arts Center, and other locations around Decatur. The Festival of the Cranes is such a cool event!
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
3121 Visitor Center Road Decatur, AL
friendsofwheelernwr.org
Saturday, January 13
7am-8:30am - Early morning birding with Dwight Cooley
8am-9:30am - Early morning birding with Christopher Joe
9am-10:30am - Photography Workshop with Robert Smith
1pm-2:30pm - Afternoon birding with Christopher Joe
3pm-4:30pm - Photography Workshop with Robert Smith
9am-5pm - Visit the Observation Building View thousands of Sandhill cranes, Whooping cranes, waterfowl, geese, raptors, and perhaps a bald eagle from the comfort of a heated building. [Building capacity limited]
Sunday, January 14
8am-9:30am - Early morning birding with Teddy Roosevelt
10am-11:30am - Photography Workshop with Bobby Harrison
11am-12:30am - Birding with Christopher Joe
1pm-2:30pm - Photography Workshop with Bobby Harrison
(photo by Steve Minor)
Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, January 12
7pm - The Prescriptions
Saturday, January 13
9am-10am - Wings to Soar - Live Raptor Show
11am-12pm - The Teddy Roosevelt Show with Joe Wiegand
1pm-2pm - Wings to Soar - Live Raptor Show
3pm-4pm - Steve Trash - Rockin’ Eco Hero!
5pm-6pm - Film Premiere - Wings Over Water
Sunday, January 14
11am-12pm - Wings to Soar - Live Raptor Show
1pm-2pm - The Teddy Roosevelt Show with Joe Wiegand
3pm-4pm - Wings to Soar - Live Raptor Show
(photos courtesy of Princess Theatre)
Cook Museum of Natural Science
The Cook Museum is wild about whoopers! Find out why whooping cranes are so amazing in the Cool Cranes! Science on the Spot presentations. There will also be a selfie station, coloring, and a craft activity. At the Crane Dance Party, you can learn how to dance like a crane. 133 4th Ave NE. cookmuseum.org
Saturday, January 13
10am-2pm - Wild About Whoopers!
12:30pm Cool Cranes! Science on the spot
10am-2pm - Whooping Crane Selfie Station
10am-2pm - Craft: Coloring Activity
All Day Crane Dance Party!
(photo courtesy of Cook Museum)
Historic Decatur Union Depot
The Historic Decatur Union Depot will have a Crane Train in honor of the Festival of the Cranes on January 12 from 1:30pm-4pm and January 13 from 10am-12pm.
Alabama Center for the Arts
133 2nd Ave NE
Saturday, January 13
Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall
9am-10am - Vicky Smith - Batty about Bats!
11am-12pm - Dr. James B. McClintock - Lost Antarctica
2pm-3pm - Stephanie Schmidt - International Crane Foundation
Sunday, January 14
Performing Arts Building - Recital Hall
10am-11am - Vicky Smith - Batty about Bats!
11:30am-12:30pm - Jimmy Stiles - Live Reptiles
1:30pm-2:30pm - Dr. James B. McClintock - Lost Antarctica
2pm-3pm - Stephanie Schmidt - International Crane Foundation
3pm-4pm - Jimmy Stiles - Live Reptiles
(photo courtesy of Alabama Center for the Arts)
For more activities, go to Decatur Public Library and Carnegie Visual Arts Center.
Information from Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge: https://www.friendsofwheelernwr.org/foc-2024
