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Photos: The Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ A group of Sandhill Cranes forage at the Hiwassee Refuge. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ A group of Sandhill Cranes forage at the Hiwassee Refuge. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

By Robin Rudd January 19, 2020 1 min read

Photo Gallery

Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Beth Parker, of the American Eagle Foundation, carries a female great-horned owl, who has lost a eye, was a favorite of the crowd at the Birchwood Community Center. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Carly Hamilton of the American Eagle Foundation shows a female American Kestrel to the crowd at the Birchwood Community Center. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Beth Parker, of the American Eagle Foundation, brings a female great horned owl down the center aisle of the Birchwood Community Center. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Little Apollo Hicks is delighted by a eastern screech owl carried by Beth Parker, of the American Eagle Foundation at the Birchwood Community Center. Holding Apollo is grandmother Nancy Ponder. Looking on is grandfather Erie Ponder. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Bee keeper Shannon Baxter gives Ella Cusion a taste of his honey, while Ella's brother looks on at the Birchwood Community Center. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Emily Hinds, of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency gives some information to Margaret Green at the Birchwood Community Center. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Many vendors and conservation agencies filled the Birchwood Community Center. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Longtime Chattanooga area conservationist Ken Dubke speaks with AJ Binney of the International Crane Foundation. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Festival goers observe the Sandhill Cranes from the observation area the the Hiwasee Refuge. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ The evening sun shines from behind a ancient tree at eh Hiwassee Refuge observation area. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Three Sandhill Cranes fly past the observation area at the Hiwassee Refuge. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Cais Lam uses a spotting scope provided by the Tennessee Ornithological Society to view the cranes at the Hiwassee Refuge. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Following their shadows down a group of Sandhill Cranes joins other birds at the Hiwassee Refuge. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Carly Hamilton, of the American Eagle Foundation, holds a eastern screech owl as it is photographed by festival goers at the Birchwood Community Center. The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge. The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.

The 29th Annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival celebrates the thousands of birds that migrate through or spend the winter on and around the Hiwassee Refuge.

The festival, the final day was January 19, 2020, also provides an opportunity to focus on the rich wildlife heritage of the state and the Native American history of the area.