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THE SANDHILL CRANE
Sandhill Cranes (Grus Canadensis), one of fifteen crane species in the world, are found throughout North America.[1] Numerous in the west, they gather in vast numbers, especially along the Platte River. A favorite spot is the Crane Meadows Nature near Kearney, NE.[2] Wherever they congregate, it’s possible to see a sight common when the species breeds.
Spectacular mating dance
Who hasn’t heard of it? Facing each other, a pair will leap into the air, wings extended, feet thrown forward. Then they bow to each other and repeat the performance, uttering loud croaking calls. Courting birds run about with wings outstretched, tossing tufts of grass in the air.[3]
Habitat, range, breeding
Sandhills prefer open water wetlands for breeding. But the different subspecies — Lesser Sandhills and Greater Sandhills — also use bogs, sedge meadows, open grasslands, pine savannas, and even cultivated land to rest and nest.[4] In April, they select remote wetlands and construct nests two to three feet across, about five inches above the water. Females lay two greenish or brownish oval-shaped speckled eggs, twice the size of chicken’s eggs.
Distributed widely — though intermittently — throughout North America, their habitat extends south to Cuba and north to eastern Siberia. The three migratory subspecies, lesser, greater and Canadian, are found across a broad breeding range in Canada, northern U.S. and eastern Siberia. They winter in southern U.S. and northern Mexico. The three non-migratory subspecies (Mississippi, Cuban and Floridian) have restricted ranges in southern U.S. and Cuba.[5] Members of the Heron family, they’re plentiful here. Wyoming Game & Fish allows their hunting.[6]
Food
Omnivorous creatures, Sandhills feed on plant tubers, grains, mice and snakes, insects and worms. They find these foods in uplands and shallow wetlands. Flightless chicks forage on insects and other protein filled foods during their early stages. Since Sandhills are adept at probing the ground to find planted agricultural seeds such as corn, occasional conflicts with farmers occur.
What to look for
Tall, stately birds with heavy bodies, long necks and legs, males weigh about twelve pounds; females, around 9 pounds. Except for size, the sexes look alike; dark bills, unfeathered red crowns and lores, whitish cheeks and chins, gray plumage which often becomes stained with rust or brown due to iron content in water or tundra ponds, and dark gray legs.[7] The return of these beautiful birds in large numbers annually signals spring’s arrival.