Every afternoon of Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, 2008, thousands of Sandhill Cranes displayed their majestic calls, dances and flights into Baker Sanctuary. When Larry Walkinshaw discovered their first nest there in 1931, fewer than twenty nested east of the Mississippi River. Once there had been thousands. Baker Sanctuary, the first sanctuary in the world devoted to protection cranes, was founded in 1941. Walkinshaw led the effort as Chairman of the Michigan Audubon Society Crane Sanctuaty Committee. Typical of Walkinshaw’s birding protocol, friends assisted the amatuer Michigan birder at every turn along the way.

On the Wings of Cranes: Larry Walkinshaw’s Life Story was featured here as it was at four previous events over as many days. Appropriately, this was the book’s showcase presentation to the public. The book’s author and editor (shown above) were there joined by the public to honor their father-in-law and father 77-years after he began his study of Greater Sandhill Cranes. Other family members present (but not shown) were J. R. ‘Jim’ Walkinshaw’s wife, Jan, their son Alan, and his son Jimmy. Schake, the author, is shown holding a copy of the newly released book.

Each day, about equal numbers of people and cranes arrived. About 5,000 was the estimate. Mingled among the book signing activities appeared members of Larry Walkinshaw’s ‘extended’ birding family. They offered many memorable experiences and many new insights into his life. Mark Weldon of Fort Wayne, Indiana came with an especially poignant picture of Larry measuring Sandhill Crane Nest Number 307. Mark took the picture on May 6, 1980 as they worked the Michigan and Indiania marshes. Their friendship spanned decades as Larry eventually logged over 600 nests of these elusive creatrures. The picture showed Larry with his pants legs rolled up, stretching a tape measue, while admiring the nest’s two eggs.

A PreFest Fundraising Dinner was held on the evening before CraneFest. Before then Olivet College (where Larry attended for two years), the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek, and the Battle Creek’s Brigham Audubon all hosted programs. Schake presesnt an overview of the On the Wings of Cranes with a superb power point presentation developed by Baker Sanctuary Manager, Mike Boyce.

The entire Walkinshaw family expresses their gratitude for this warm welcome in recognition of an exceptional Michigan ornithologist.

As the book claims in its Introduction, “Birding is its theme; Inspiration its message”.