You're so lucky. I would sure love to see a sight like that.

Kendra2, I've got to admit that sort of sight never gets old or less of a treasure to me. The amount of cranes coming over gives me hope, too, that their numbers are increasing. That day I saw all the circling I would guess I was seeing somewhere in the range of 300+ birds. That's just one of many times I've heard them, so it's really encouraging. I can't spend all day craning my neck to watch the birds go over, but I wish I could - the Wood storks don't make a real identifiable 'call' (some hoarse croaking, kind of, occasionally) and we've had them fly over low enough before to identify, so I'm hoping and wondering if I'm missing them this year.
Still would love to know if anyone has seen that behavior or if it is taking advantage of a thermal. You know how it is... curiosity killed the cat. :)
Ging

I'm in central Indiana and we must be in their fly-way too. We get them every November, and then in the spring. I'm thinking their changing places has something to do with their innate knowledge of what is the best aerodynamic form to make. But maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. hahaha
It is always a treat to see (and hear) them fly over. Sometimes it takes a little while to find them, since they fly so high.

This January I was outside and heard them. This is VERY unusual, and I'm not sure what that meant. I've never heard them in January before. There's a place in northern Indiana (Jasper-Pulaski Game Preserve), where you can go at times in October, and see about 30,000 of them landing in a field at dusk. I went a couple times, and its soooo impressive!