Overview

• More than 100,000 cranes are currently gathered at German stopover sites, with Nabu expecting about 400,000 to transit the country over several weeks.
• Over 20,000 birds flew over Hesse toward France on Monday, with thousands reported across the Rhein‑Main region as the first significant passage of the season.
• Nabu identifies two principal corridors through Germany, one via Hesse–Rhineland‑Palatinate–Saarland into France and another from Lower Saxony through North Rhine‑Westphalia, plus a lighter southern route.
• Brandenburg remains a hotspot, with Linumer Teiche cited as Germany’s largest crane roost by record and roughly 25,000 birds currently concentrated at Gülper See, where ranger‑led tours run on October 18 and 24.
• Experts note mass movements require tailwinds and high pressure, migration is occurring about two weeks earlier than 15 years ago, and at least 10,000 cranes wintered in Germany last year; observers are urged to watch from vehicles or a clear distance to avoid disturbance.