The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alabama becomes a remarkable haven every winter. Tens of thousands of sandhill cranes, along with a smaller number of endangered whooping cranes, migrate here from the Great Lakes and Wisconsin. The Tennessee Valley provides ideal conditions with its open fields, shallow waters, and plentiful food. Established in the mid-1990s, this migration gained recognition in the mid-2000s, and by 2024, the number of sandhill cranes reached 30,000. Each January, the Festival of the Cranes attracts bird watchers eager to see these birds, along with bald eagles, geese, and kestrels, solidifying the refuge as a bird-watching hotspot.

Conservation efforts have helped increase the whooping crane population, which nearly went extinct in the early 1900s due to hunting and habitat loss. Today, reintroduction programs have raised their numbers to over 800 worldwide. However, climate change threatens their migratory routes and habitats. Experts warn that changing conditions could affect their nesting and wintering areas. At Wheeler Refuge, visitors can observe crane behaviors like their unique calls and dances. This refuge highlights the importance of conserving wildlife while fostering public appreciation, ensuring future generations can admire these amazing birds.