Today WNR had the Festival of the Cranes, which is an open house free event for the public. The public arrived just prior to 6:30 AM for breakfast. After breakfast the day began with morning observations from the climate controlled Observatory overlooking the wildlife pond and food plots. Besides walking trails and the wildlife, activities included classroom events for children, educational programs in the auditorium, raptor programs by Auburn University, Films on the Cranes, a time for lunch in the training classroom areas, Brain Ellis's walking tour in the tradition of John Audubon as he portrays being Audubon, and a relaxing day observing the Whooping Cranes, Sand Cranes, numerous species of waterfowl and geese.

Within the Observation areas of the Refuge it was noted this week that the bird population was: 13,361 Sandhill cranes, 10 Bald Eagles, 13 Whooping Cranes, 1380 geese, and 53,416 ducks with an assorted assortment of Herons, American Coots, Mute Swans, andTundra Swans.