At Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, the return of the sandhill cranes signals the arrival of spring—and they make sure everyone knows it. These tall, elegant birds are famous for their loud, rattling calls that can carry for miles across the marshes.

Captured on video by Kelly Backledge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, one crane can be seen belting out its powerful call in a wetland, joining what sounds like a wild, feathered choir welcoming the season.

This distinctive “spring soundtrack” is a seasonal tradition at Tamarac, where wildlife watchers and nature lovers alike celebrate the cranes' return each year. Their resonant voices echo through the refuge, announcing to all: “We’re back!”

Video by Kelly Backledge / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service