Wetland Restoration Hoodie Fundraiser

The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy are offering a pull over sweatshirt with an illustration of  Sand Hill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) on the back, and The Friends' logo on the front.

When Aldo Leopold wrote his now famous essay ‘Marshland Elegy’ he did so anticipating the forthcoming extinction of the sandhill crane. This charismatic species is now the most abundant crane species in the world. This represents one of the most successful accomplishments of species recovery in conservation history.

Gathering each fall in the hundreds, sandhill cranes and their annual convergence are part of the seasonal rhythm of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The wetland provides critical roosting habitat for the cranes as they gather here preparing to migrate. Days are spent feeding in the surrounding sedge meadows, prairies, and agricultural fields. Sandhill cranes offer a reminder of the connectivity of the natural world.

The wetland community at the Pheasant Branch Conservancy exists due to its location within the watershed. Increasingly, thinking about the Pheasant Branch Conservancy means thinking about the Pheasant Branch Watershed.

This design represents partnership and connectivity. The iconic symbology of dancing cranes represents partnerships and the commitments we owe to each other. The background is the outline of the Pheasant Branch Creek Watershed. Watersheds represent connectivity. What happens in one part of the watershed may affect the whole. The intricacies of connectivity are complex and the results seldom immediate. Thus, the gathering of cranes may serve as reminder of the success that has been made to protect species and their habitat and the potential of what can be accomplished now and into the future. Showing your support of Sandhill Cranes and FOPBC allows us to continue our work to protect, restore, and promote the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.

Sweatshirts are $40+shipping and 100% of proceeds go directly toward wetland restoration in Pheasant Branch Conservancy, supporting efforts such as invasive species management and prescribed burns.