Photos of sandhill cranes spotted in P.E.I. posted to Facebook

The Souris and area branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation has shared a photo of two relatively rare visitors to the Island sandhill cranes.

Fred Cheverie, watershed coordinator for the branch, said the group posts photos submitted by amateur photographers daily. This one was submitted by Marcy Robertson.

"[The sandhill crane] used to be quite rare in P.E.I., but in recent years it's becoming more and more common," he said.

"They're just starting to come to our area in the last 10 years or so."

Cheverie said he assumes climate change is the reason for the increased frequency of the birds.

While he said sandhill cranes have "almost pest levels" in Western Canada, he thinks seeing more of the birds on the Island is a good thing.

"It's a good thing for the time being. Anytime you get a new species to your area it's always good," he said. "Our environment and our environment and the crops we grow here is different than what they do out west."

He said posting the submitted photos also helps raise awareness about the work the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation does.

"It's a great thing. It brings people to visit our website regularly," he said. "They come to see that picture, they start browsing through what else is new."

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Books can change kids' lives, says author David Denby
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Nature Conservancy of Canada purchase protects 2 forested sites on the Percival River