With food almost being exhausted in this part of the Refuge and the mudflats still flood, the Sandhill Cranes are mingling in other portions of the Refuge. And, as we use to say in my past work, there are some of the Sandhills who are now staying "off the Reservation" on unprotected farm fields. These three plus one out of range were all that were present in this area which two weeks ago held over 5,000 Sandhill Cranes. And this birds flew off once they realized the frozen mud offered no breakfast.