Watch and listen: Massive sandhill crane migration now in Minnesota and Wisconsin

With throaty, prehistoric-sounding calls, you’ll hear when a sandhill crane flies nearby — even if you can’t see it. Those calls are amplifying as cranes come from distant nesting areas to gather in large groups (known as “staging”) before migrating. They spend their days feasting on field crop leftovers and wild seeds and return to roost for the night in staging areas such as Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge until they’re ready to head south. The refuge hosts a handful of early morning crane tours through Nov. 1 for a chance to see some of the 14,000 cranes coming through from late October to early November. If you live closer to the Wisconsin border, Crex Meadows, near Grantsburg, Wis., is another great spot to watch the birds fly in at sunset. In both cases, bring binoculars.

The early evening, late-summer trill of American toads has been quiet as these warty amphibians prepare for winter. They dig themselves into sandy soil so they can be below the frost line and avoid freezing. Read more on the Three Rivers Park District blog.

Vibrant clusters of highbush cranberries can be found in moist areas, next to lakes or rivers, and in clearings and edges of woods throughout most of the state. The tart edible berries can be made into jams or sauces and add flavor to fall foods such as curried squash soup. Theresa Marrone, author of “Cooking with Wild Berries and Fruits,” shared her recipe with Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, a publication from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Lisa Meyers McClintick of St. Cloud has freelanced for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2001 and volunteers as a Minnesota Master Naturalist.