Keep these fun facts and tips handy for the next time a crane swoops by:

• There are no species of cranes in Antarctica and South America.

• According to Japanese folklore, if one folds 1,000 origami cranes, then a wish for health is granted.

• Look up in the sky! Is that a crane? In flight, cranes are often mistaken for herons, White Pelicans, and other birds. To differentiate, cranes fly with their necks fully extended and perform a running start before take off. Whooping cranes possess black markings on their wing tips which are only visible in flight.

• “Craniac” is the nickname given to those who love all things cranes.

• What a Whooper! Averaging 5-feet in height, Whooping cranes are the tallest species of birds in North America.

• In synch! “Unison calls” are more synchronous in older pairs of cranes, than with their younger counterparts.

• The word pedigree is comes from the French phrase “pie de grue” or crane’s foot. Old genealogical charts represent offspring with forked lines extending from the names of their parents. The resulting line pattern looks like the foot of a crane.

• Sandhills are the most abundant species of cranes in the world.

• Some believe the term “cranberry” comes from word “crane berry.” This bird was commonly seen eating these berries, which grew where nests were constructed. Yet, others believe that when cranberry flowers dip down, they resemble the head of a crane.

Resources for this article have been provided by the Journey North, North American Crane Working Group and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.