Time for lunch

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When I visited Orlando Wetlands a couple of months ago, the Sandhill Crane parents were busy sitting on a nest. And now look at how big their adorable colts are getting!!

The little ones are amazingly mobile not long after hatching. “Their down dries 2 to 3 hours after hatching, by which time their eyes are open, they can sit up on their tibiotarsi, and sometimes even stand feebly.” (Birds of the World)

For the first week or two, the adults feed the hatchlings bill-to-bill, and the young become more and more independent as they grow (Birds of the World).

The Sandhill Crane’s “diet is heavy in seeds and cultivated grains, but may also include berries, tubers, small vertebrates, and invertebrates. Nonmigratory populations eat adult and larval insects, snails, reptiles, amphibians, nestling birds, small mammals, seeds, and berries.” (All About Birds-Sandhill Crane)

“Food items may be dropped at the feet of young by adults leading them to feeding opportunities.” (Birds of the World)

On this visit, I watched as both parents strolled along with these two youngsters, leading them to bits of food along the trail.

The Sandhill Crane is an omnivorous species and this 1650-acre expanse offers plenty to eat throughout its various wetland habitats.

Another interesting source of info is this Wildlife of Florida Sandhill Crane Fact Sheet.

35 thoughts on “Time for lunch”

  1. what a terrific and informative blog post. Thank you so much. It’s a very unique bird. One you can look at for a long time and watch their peculiar behavior and their unique walking style.

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  3. In Orlando’s Wetlands, not so remote, A birder’s tale begins to float. Sandhill Crane parents, of high repute, On a nest they sat, so astute. 🐦

    Time whisked by, as nature’s clock ticked, Their colts, now big, in growth they picked. Just hatched, yet agile, a sight to adore, Mobility marvels, who could ask for more? 🌿

    Their down, post-hatching, dries quite fast, In mere hours, a spectacle vast. Eyes wide open, on their legs, they perch, A feebly stand, in their lofty search. 🌤️

    With bill-to-bill, the feeding dance, For weeks this lasts, in nurturing stance. Independence blooms, as they grow each day, In the wetland’s embrace, they find their way. 🌱

    Seeds and grains, their diet’s main, Berries, tubers, a diverse terrain. Insects, snails, small prey caught in flight, An omnivorous diet, in their parents’ sight. 🐛

    Food dropped at feet, a guide to feast, By adults, their care not in the least. Along the trail, a family stride, Leading the young, with food to coincide. 🍇

    A 1650-acre wetland, a banquet vast, For the Sandhill Crane, their shadows cast. Omnivorous beings, in wetlands thrive, A birder’s journal, vividly alive. 📚

    In Florida’s wild, a fact sheet sings, Of Sandhill Crane and the joy it brings. In this birder’s journey, tales unfold, A story of life, and wings so bold. 📖

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  10. You’ve created a really interesting documentary with illustrations on the life and times of Sandhill Crane colts.

    We’re so lucky here in Florida to be able to see them at all stages of their development.

    Thank you for sharing your trip to the wetlands park and its young residents.

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