In 1999, Mike embarked on a mission to photograph and write a book that documented the migration of sandhill cranes, On Ancient Wings: The Sandhill Cranes of North America. His goal was to illuminate the cranes’ lives and the diverse habitats they connect across the continent, stretching from Alaska to Cuba.
The 2004 self-published book reflects Mike’s five-year journey that covered 65,000 miles, involved 1,000 rolls of film, and meticulous notes captured in three 100-page journals, spanning 13 locations across four countries. On Ancient Wings serves as a visual narrative and highlights the challenges facing sandhill cranes in their increasingly compromised habitats.
Additionally, Mike was featured in the PBS documentary Crane Song, which artfully weaves together breathtaking visuals and sounds of sandhill cranes with narratives from observers, conservationists, and landowners dedicated to conserving these vital ecosystems.
Today, Mike continues to photograph the crane migration, one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth.
