After the ice started melting and it got above freezing I went over to Altona Marsh and found the Sandhill Cranes in a cornfield just east of the Altona Farm along Rt 51.  They were too far away ( approx 150yds ) for regular telephoto work so I resorted to digiscoping.  I've posted a couple photos at:
 
http://wvbirder.net/sacr2.htm  Check out his website for photos.

Here are condensed versions:

Other Sandhill Cranes

We visited the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge near Chattanooga, TN, the day after Christmas, 2008.  There were thousands of the Sandhills.  Some Whooping Cranes (about 4-6) had been sited the day before, but we did not get to see them.  We did see a couple of Golden Eagles, however.

Here are a few photos we took:

Click on photo for larger image.

They were in fields on every side.
	Constantly flying in and out.
Sometimes in pretty big flocks
	They were on the mud flats and in the fields