Staff Photo by Patrick Smith
Sand Hill Crane Festival in Meigs County

By Laura Galbraith, Staff Reporter

The 17th annual Cherokee Heritage and Sandhill Crane Viewing Days Festival in Birchwood, Tenn., didn't come close to bringing in the number of birdwatchers Saturday it usually gets every year. The number of cranes was pretty low, too.

After two longtime supporters pulled out the event was temporarily canceled, but local sponsors stepped in and the event stayed on.

The Birchwood Elementary School celebrated the event with their own activities, which included arts and crafts and a live raptor bird show.

Activities also took place at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park at the Blythe Ferry landing, which celebrated the grand opening of their new visitors center.

The cranes have not shown up yet because the weather has been so warm, officials said.

For complete coverage see tomorrow’s Times Free Press