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 weekend.Sandhill Cranes are monogamous and mate for life, usually laying one brood of two eggs per year. Their survival rate is good, according to David Sibley, and Sandhill Cranes have been known to live to at least 23 years of age in the wild (Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, p. 254).Apparently, these large birds have been around for quite awhile (Audubon)! Here are some rather incredible ‘Fun Facts’ about Sandhill Cranes:
The earliest Sandhill Crane fossil, estimated to be 2.5 million years old, was unearthed in the Macasphalt Shell Pit in Florida. (All About Birds).
Even more remarkable: A fossil from the Miocene Epoch, some ten million years ago, was found to be structurally the same as the modern sandhill crane. (National Geographic)As we strolled by and photographed them, this pair calmly went about their business foraging in the shallow edge of the muddy pond and pecking at the grass. They are omnivores and will eat clams, lizards, fish, frogs, snakes, and other small aquatic invertebrates, but also feed on insects, grains, seeds tubers, and berries.Well-known for their courtship dances (Arkive.org), I hope to photograph these elegant birds again next spring – who knows, maybe I can capture my own dance video!