Sandhill Crane Festival

Blue Moon Cruises is offering special discounted cruises to view the Sandhill Cranes during the Sandhill Crane Festival, January 19-20. The cruises will last approximately one and a half hours and will circumnavigate the crane roosting areas on Hiwassee Island. In addition to Sandhill Cranes, other species that may be seen on the cruise are resident and wintering bald eagles, cormorants, waterfowl, herons, egrets and grebes.

The Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival which takes place at the Birchwood School and Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Birchwood, TN includes nature exhibits, artisan booths, crane viewings, lectures and boat rides to celebrate the seasonal return of thousands of Sandhill cranes to the nearby Hiwassee Island Refuge. Cruises will leave from Blythe Ferry Landing adjacent to the Wildlife Refuge and Cherokee Removal Memorial. Tickets for the Hiwassee Island cruise are $15 per person at www.bluemooncruises.org or 888-993-2583.