BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota wildlife officials are urging people to keep an eye out for migrating whooping cranes. The North Dakota Fish and Game Department says a portion of a population of 500 cranes are crossing the state on a 2,500-mile migration from nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada to wintering grounds in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

The agency says anyone who spots cranes should leave them alone but record the date, time, location and the birds’ activities and report the sighting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The reports help biologists locate crane habitat areas, monitor marked birds and determine population numbers and migration routes.

Photo to right to give  comparison of Whooping Crane to the  common Sandhill Crane.