Mississippi Sandhill Crane

The Mississippi Sandhill Crane is a striking, heron-like bird with gray plumage and bright red crowns, standing 5 feet tall with a 6-foot wingspan. Unlike other sandhill cranes, they are non-migratory, staying within range of their homes year-round. Known for their long necks and legs, they fly gracefully outstretched across the horizon.  They mate for life, selecting partners through an elaborate dance.  Critically endangered, this magnificent crane has lost much of its native habitat in southern Mississippi and Alabama to land development, pine plantations, and invasive plants. But there is hope for its recovery: it was the first bird to hatch from an egg fertilized by cryogenically preserved sperm thanks to the Audubon Institute's Endangered Species Recovery plan. Conservation efforts also include habitat restoration and predator management to ensure their survival.