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 […]
The stately Sandhill Cranes, year-round residents throughout Florida, are called ‘iconic members of the Florida ecosystem’ by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Below is a Florida Sandhill Crane distribution map from the University of Florida IFAS Extension illustrating the species’ broad range throughout North America, including its widespread presence in Florida. The Cranes […]
There are so many lovely sights at Circle B Bar Reserve ☺️. You never know who you’re going to meet.
All young birds are pretty darn cute, but this guy really makes me smile! Amazingly, Sandhill Crane chicks are able to leave the nest just ONE day after hatching and follow the parents around! They stay close to the parents for 9-10 months (Audubon Field Guide). We’ve seen much younger Sandhill Crane colts in the […]
Sandhill Cranes are very large non-migratory birds that “breed and forage in open prairies, grasslands, and wetlands” (All About Birds, Florida FWC). Monogamous breeders, they are known for their unique mating dances! (listen on Bird Note and watch this Bird Note video (especially after 45 sec. or so). On a recent walk, I heard this […]
These Sandhill Cranes kept us company most of the morning, as they strolled and foraged along the same trails we chose to walk. They were clearly right at home here, and utterly unperturbed by our presence. Sandhill Crane chicks can leave the nest about 8 hours after hatching (!) but, like this long-legged juvenile above, […]
We always hoped to see the Sandhill Crane pair with their colts when we visited the refuge in recent months, but I never managed to catch them in good light conditions. This time, we did a double-take as soon as we drove in the entrance road. The two adult Cranes were strolling right alongside us by the […]
Another little beauty from Circle B Bar Ranch Reserve. This vulnerable 8-day old Sandhill Crane colt gets around quite well, but keeps close to his parents. They will be watchful caregivers for about the next 10 months.Adult Sandhill Cranes (who are a stately 4-5 feet tall) mate for life and have only 1-3 young per nesting season. The […]
A Sandhill Crane is literally what I call a ‘pretty, tall bird’. . . . .There is something about standing right next to this statuesque beauty – I could really feel its nearly 4 feet in height. And its beautiful face was so photogenic.Though I’ve written about Sandhill Cranes before, I couldn’t resist adding photos from this […]
The first few times I saw Sandhill Cranes, they were wandering around in baseball fields and parking lots at regional parks, and I couldn’t help but think they looked like gangly, long-necked umpires with little red caps!Only when I discovered them in preserves like this one, could I see their true beauty! Sandhill Cranes feed in […]
Birder's Journey 