Photos: Sandhill cranes return to Alaska for summer

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Sandhill cranes call to each other in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge on Friday, April 24, 2015. The refuge is an important migration stop for many migratory birds.

If there was any question about whether spring has actually arrived in Southcentral Alaska, the calls of sandhill cranes should serve to remove any doubt.

The large birds made their annual appearance recently after a long journey north from wintering spots in Texas, New Mexico and California. Weighing up to 12 pounds, the cranes are Alaska's largest game bird.

Sandhill cranes were spotted recently in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge in South Anchorage. The birds can fly exceptionally high, and with their 6-foot wingspan they have been known to travel over 350 miles in a single day.

In addition to the Anchorage refuge, the farm fields of the Matanuska Valley are great spots to view these birds as they stop on their way to breeding grounds in Interior Alaska.