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Since we have been talking about them last week I thought you guys would enjoy seeing a picture of them.
Kidding

These are two Sandhill cranes that walk through my neighborhood about once a week or so. These birds are about 4 feet high and I was within 4 feet of them. Someone has been feeding them since they followed me all over the yard looking for handouts.


Not a good thing, to many have lost a fear and will walk right in front of a car. They are getting hit way to often.

I' learning to use my IPad here perhaps a better picture.

I was told by a "Redneck" friend that they're pretty good eating.

Here in IL we see and mostly hear them fly over in spring and fall. My brother in Berlin WI sees them looking out over a local farmers corn field.

When I was visiting this past summer I took a few pictures, at a good long ways away. I spotted a pair that had a chick but by the time I got the camera the chick gone into hiding. Yea that time of year you will not get so close.

This turned out to be an interesting shot, 840mm lens will only get you this close. Even at this distance they had taken notice of me, hence the chick hiding even at that point.
Ed

reible wrote:Here in IL we see and mostly hear them fly over in spring and fall. My brother in Berlin WI sees them looking out over a local farmers corn field.

When I was visiting this past summer I took a few pictures, at a good long ways away. I spotted a pair that had a chick but by the time I got the camera the chick gone into hiding. Yea that time of year you will not get so close.

This turned out to be an interesting shot, 840mm lens will only get you this close. Even at this distance they had taken notice of me, hence the chick hiding even at that point.

IMG_3335sc.jpg

Ed

I've never seen one here in Ohio -- I'll have to pay more attention to what's flying overhead.

Looks like you got a deer in the background as well!

....along with a couple thousand of their friends and family.
They winter over in our part of the world.

This was from last March, the second flock of the day. You can hear them coming while they are just dots in the sky.
According to my brother they (this flock???) arrived up by him, still too much snow so the next day they took off for parts south. I guess that happens.

I have no idea where these winter but their north/south trips take them over our house.

Ed

Fla_Jim wrote:I was told by a "Redneck" friend that they're pretty good eating.

Must be. The rednecks here have gotten an open season on them passed!

reible wrote:Here in IL we see and mostly hear them fly over in spring and fall. My brother in Berlin WI sees them looking out over a local farmers corn field.

When I was visiting this past summer I took a few pictures, at a good long ways away. I spotted a pair that had a chick but by the time I got the camera the chick gone into hiding. Yea that time of year you will not get so close.

This turned out to be an interesting shot, 840mm lens will only get you this close. Even at this distance they had taken notice of me, hence the chick hiding even at that point.

IMG_3335sc.jpg

Ed

Did you notice the deer standing in the background?

Interesting that you saw one with chicks that far north. Most pairs here in Florida are caring for chicks this time of year.

I actually was able to pet a chick about 5 years ago. The parents kept a sharp eye on me and me on them. I did not want to feel what they could do with those beaks. .

There was a deer in my picture? Why yes there was, and the reason I took a series of shots at that time. Just never know what might happen to make a photo more interesting.

So as far as chicks that far north......... this is the summer breeding grounds. They live there from March to Nov, a good 8 months of the year for that express reason. Here is a short read if you care to:

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/critt ... ndhill.htm

I believe some of them go north in to Canada and perhaps Alaska each summer so WI is not even that far north for them.

Do you have a local population that you see all year round? It could be that some of your birds don't venture north?

Ed