A Family Gathering

Ah, naturally the moment I stop to change lenses on my camera I hear the noisy call of the Sandhill Cranes from the southwest. Are they approaching? Hanging out in the field off in the distance, out of sight? Moving in a different direction? Better safe than sorry, I quickly re-attach the more "zoomy" lens just in time to snap some photos as pass over to the north and turn back into the wind from the south. Three huge birds, almost hovering as their legs dangle and wings curve for a landing at the edge of one of the outlet ponds.

This trio appears to be the same as I've seen earlier in the summer, two adults and a juvenile (lacking the scarlet forehead of the older birds), which I assume to be a little family unit. Sandhill Cranes will lay up to three eggs at their wetland nesting site in April or May, although generally only a single chick survives (even with such formidable parents protecting them, many young birds are lost to predators such as coyotes, bobcats, and raccoons. 

The young bird will stay with its parents throughout the winter, migrating in late November or early December and returning with them in late February or March, at which point the youngster will strike off on its own (sometimes joining a small flock with other young cranes) when the parents begin to nest again. 

Sandhill Cranes can live 20 years or more, with some birds documented as being over 35 years old. They will normally not pair up until they are around 7 years old, and will stay with that mate for life, often returning to the same area year after year to nest. How fortunate for us that a pair has chosen the Sycamore Wetlands as their home! Let's do everything we can to be good and hospitable neighbors to them and future generations of cranes. 

 Sources/Learn more:

• All About Birds: Sandhill Crane
• Audubon Field Guide
  
•  International Crane Foundation: Sandhill Crane
  
• Birds of the World: Sandhill Crane [subscription required]