Asian hooded crane lands in S. Ind. wildlife area

LINTON, Ind. — Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says a hooded crane was first spotted Tuesday at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area about 40 miles west of Bloomington. By Wednesday, more than 100 bird enthusiasts from as far away as Minnesota, West Virginia and Nebraska had visited.

The DNR says hooded cranes nest in Russian and China and winter in Japan. The hooded crane is believed to one also spotted at Tennessee wildlife refuge this winter.

DNR officials say they don't know how the hooded crane got to Indiana, but they say there's no indication it was a captive bird that escaped.