COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans may want to keep their eyes on the skies this fall. Volunteer observers reported 428 sandhill cranes during the 2025 Midwest Crane Count, marking a steady increase in the state’s crane population, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The coordinated count, led by ODNR alongside the International Crane Foundation and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, revealed a 4% jump from 2024’s total of 412 cranes. Birds were spotted in 24 of the 31 counties surveyed, with Wayne County leading the way at 101 reports. Other top counties included Lucas (97), Ottawa (59), Geauga (51), and Sandusky (19).

Since its launch in 2021, the Midwest Crane Count has grown each year. Ohio’s numbers highlight that expansion:

2025: 428 cranes (3

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