The Sandhill cranes have once again returned to a small nearby refuge.  The refuge is closed to the public at this time of year, but if you drive around the surrounding land, you can often see flocks flying in the sky or eating waste corn and insects from the harvested corn fields.  The cranes have been making their way back to these same farm fields for many years. What a joy to see and hear them as they winter at this stopover place.

This fond attachment to the well-known place
Whence first we started into life’s long race,
Maintains its hold with such unfailing sway,
We feel it e’en in age, and at our latest day.
~William Cowper