1. Weather: Sandhill cranes are adapted to live in warm climates, and they migrate to avoid cold weather and snow. They typically winter in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
2. Food: Sandhill cranes are omnivorous and their diet consists of a variety of plants and animals. In the winter, food becomes scarce in their northern breeding grounds, so they migrate south to find more abundant food sources.
3. Breeding: Sandhill cranes migrate to their breeding grounds in the spring and early summer. They typically nest in wetlands, and the availability of suitable nesting sites can influence their migration patterns.
4. Tradition: Sandhill cranes are known for their strong migratory traditions. They often follow the same routes and stopover sites year after year, which is thought to help them navigate and find suitable habitats along the way.
Migration is an essential part of the life cycle of sandhill cranes. It allows them to survive in a changing environment and to successfully reproduce and raise their young.