Blog Archives
Sandhill Closeup
Friends, this sandhill crane was very close to the road, so I just had to take his picture, nice portrait, don’t you think? He was rooting in the mud for food but had cleaned off his bill for the photographer. About 12000 of these birds have gathered in Crex Meadows to fatten up before their long flight south. til Tomorrow MJ
Crane Overhead
Friends, this Greater Sandhill Crane is taking flight at sunrise. In Crex Meadows, the cranes come into Main Dike at sunset and roost for the night. People also come by the dozens to watch the nightly display. In the morning, the cranes are noisy on the roost and all talking at once just before they take off and go back to the fields to spend their day. They usually fly in large flocks or smaller family groups and this single crane was actually part of a larger group. As they passed overhead, I was able to isolate a single crane in flight. til Tomorrow MJ
Calling Crane
Friends, this Sandhill crane was right by the road when i jumped out to photograph him. I like the feathers in the tip of his bill, he is molting his summer coat stained with red-iron water. Soon he will be handsome gray all over and ready to move further south. Til then we enjoy the flocks of cranes that spend the fall in Crex and surrounding areas. He was calling and i love the red eyes. til Tomorrow MJ
Coming Soon Migration
Friends, soon this will be a common sight in Crex, the Sandhill Cranes flying in to join the larger flocks. They will dance and celebrate the end of summer, the arrival of the fall foliage and the migration of other birds, ducks, hawks, swans and passerines. They will all fly away to the south and leave me here,calling in the darkness of winter, longing for their return. But for now, time to get busy. til Tomorrow MJ
Dancing Lessons
Friends, did your mother teach you to dance, probably not. I learned from a friend, but in the crane world, the adults teach the dancing skills. The youngster on the left is learning from the two dancing in the middle how to celebrate life and rejoice. So for today, dance and teach your children. til Tomorrow MJ
Sandhill Crane Young
Friends, this is a young Sandhill Crane colt who is about half grown. Those of you who have followed my blog know that one of my favorite birds is the Sandhill Cranes of Crex Meadows here in Northwestern Wisconsin. By fall this chick will have a brown head and as an adult bird will appear as in the bottom image. They love the cornfields and pluck the bugs from the leaves. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Up
Friends, look up in Crex Meadows early in the spring or late in the fall and you will see Greater Sandhill Cranes gathering in flocks. In the sunset sky they land on their roost, and in the spring they land and dance on the brown reeds and sedges. In the early summer they pair off and go to their nesting site to raise their young. This time of year, they soar down to land in groups, and when landing, the dancing begins. They pop up and down like popcorn, trying to find the right place to land without disturbing the residents who are already in the spot. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Change
Friends, change is in the air, the Sandhill Cranes are returning to the northland, the sky is not very blue yet, but the ice and snow are slowly leaving the meadows of Crex. I am more than ready for the warmth of spring, cause over the weekend we got another 2-3 inches of heavy wet snow. Today it is dripping off the eaves, so maybe we won’t have to snowblow this stuff off the driveway. We both have vehicles designed for maximum traction, so driving is not a problem, but walking is big problem. til Tomorrow MJ
A Promise of Spring
Friends, this Sandhill Crane was walking in water last year at this time, but not this year. I have not seen a crane yet and definitely no water except where the water is running fast like a river or stream. It is snowing again this morning and I am getting really tired of waking up in clouds and snow. But March is usually our snowiest month so I should know better than to fret over the winter blah weather. So i send you this warm spring sunshine this morning to promise that warmer days are coming (for those of us in winter now) 🙂. til Tomorrow MJ
Cranes in Spring
Friends, yes the cranes will return to Crex Meadows soon in all their spring finery, this image was taken last year about this time of year, but last year we had no snow at this time, now we have feet of snow on the ground and more coming today, ugh!!, but the color in this image helped to brighten my day, hope you like, til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 