Does anyone know anything about Sandhill Cranes? I'm apparently right in their migration path ....

Me too Sheryl. I know they (or many of them) spend the winter in zone 10 where I lived. But in the past 2 weeks here in north central Fl. I have seen as well as heard flocks of them fly over heading south. Ha! the first time was night with little moon & I could only follow them with my ears; hearing their unmistakable calls. It was weird. Don't have time to check it at the moment but I seem to remember they come from places like Salt Lake & the NW all the way down to the southernmost portions of the US.

This is interesting:

http://www.operationmigration....

This is all just too cool! Thanks Tee. I love these kind of things. Could get lost just exploring it all. Did you watch the live cam off the wing of the ultralight?

I've been out this morning and gotta catch up. Sometimes videos don't work too well for me but I'm going to try.

Thanks for that link - now I have my X-mas shopping done!

Something else I learned the other day when I was scooting around the web for more info - not only do I notice their cries, but their kind of strange way of flocking - for instance, Canadian Geese have the arrow straight flying "V", but the cranes seem to kind of wheel around a bit.

Anyway (blah, blah, blah) I guess they play a lot on thermals - hot air (well, warmer air) that rises, hence the slightly random characteristic to their flight.

Well, *I* found it interesting 'cause I've wondered why they stagger around like drunks heading home! Okay, not that bad, but....

Yes, they don't exhibit that "military rank & file" behavior. i find it sort of goes along with their "dances" --- what a riot! Talk about looking drunk!

We have the Florida Sandhill Crane here year round but the flocks increase during the cold months when northern migrants head south for the winter:

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/...

I love to visit my friends who live in a condominium community on the intracoastal waterway in Brevard County Florida. There are always lots of shorebirds to photograph and I always see this resident family of Florida Sandhill Cranes when I'm there. I took these pictures in February and July last year.

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Very cool... they kinda have sand-piper legs, huh?

Here's my latest foster baby, he was actually watching the cranes fly when I took this, lol. Wish he paid as much attention to me....

Sheryl: Your foster baby is gorgeous ... what a handsome canine! I miss having a dog in the family ... when my old cat goes to kitty heaven I will get another dog ... it's been 25 years since I've had a canine companion. I enjoy going to visit my sisters because they have dogs. I get to dog sit for my friends dog on occasion but it's not the same as having one on a permanent basis.

Well, keep me in mind when you decide to get one - this is foster baby #14. He's only 10 months old, but he whole lotta puppy, lol. Hopefully he'll go to a home with a teen boy with ADD, lol. Every horse should get their own teenage girl, every dog should have their own teenage boy. Should be the law.

He IS a pretty boy! And good of you to foster him Cheryl!!

I'm sure Lynn has experienced this but it's totally cool & also rather scary when those Sandhill Cranes approach you. They're all pretty much used to people & have no compunction about coming right up to you. You think it's going to be very cool & it is but then you see how large & pointed that beak is & gee! it easily reaches your eye level & Oh my gosh! what if he thinks my eye is something good to eat? He might just peck at it....... it gets just a tad freaky.

Sheryl: I wish I lived closer to Tennessee I'd probably take that handsome fella off your hands!

Ann: Yes, the Sandhill Cranes are quite large birds aren't they? I remember the first time I was walking along behind the pair in my photo, surprised at how close I could get to them and when they stopped and turned towards me it was a bit scary, I was worried that they might attack ... so, I backtracked rather quickly! I don't think I'd want to get too close when they have their young ones with them though.

Careful, Lin - we have transport services! I'd be happy to send him to you, today!

I was reading on the thread Ann put up that they're working very hard (at least in that case) to *not* allow the birds to become used to people, just to keep them safe. I know the Canadian Geese are quick to approach you too - I think it's too much hand feeding.

Someone else mentioned deer wandering around in town and attacking (? maybe kicking?) at people. We just can't seem to let wild animals be wild .... too many Bambi movies, I think!

Sheryl: I sure wish I could have a dog but right now I have an almost 17 year old cat whose health is failing and she doesn't much like other animals. I wouldn't want to subject her to the stress of another animal in the family right now.

I think humans should always keep their distance from wildlife. It's okay to enjoy looking and photographing when the opportunity arises but as for feeding, touching and having them become accustomed to humans is wrong. They probably wander into urban area's in search of food and some people think it's okay to feed them which it is not. Someone on another site posted this link about wildlife wandering into towns: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/p...

We have many threatened and endangered species here in Florida and the laws are strict in regards to feeding and coming into contact with them, but some people seem to think the laws pertain to everyone else but them. I say look from a distance, keep your distance, and never think it's okay to feed them.

And then are the "cute" little baby alligators who grow up quickly and the owners dump them into the waterways.

Yep ... same problem here with fish that are not indigenous to this area and are killing off native species. Folks buy them for their home aquariums as tiny, small fishies and don't know what to do when they quickly outgrow the aquarium ... they end up dumping them into the ocean. The Lionfish is one that the state is trying to eradicate because they are killing off the Florida reef fish. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11...

I think Lin will back me up on this but as far as the Sandhills are concerned it's more a case of the sandhills going where the people are. Basically, in Fl., they are found in large #'s in these golf course communities which we have SOOOOOOOOOOO many of. I have never heard of one of those communities who did NOT have rules against feeding them & most residents respect that. I think there may be an outright law against it --- I don't know. And for the most part the residents aren't exactly happy the sandhills are there. Can you imagine how they tear up a lawn? What they do (do) to your driveway & sidewalks? Now, it isn't the birds fault either. They aren't stupid. They go there because it's easy pickings. The golf courses provide everything they need.
a) it's safe. There really aren't any natural predators after them there (occasional gator) & there's no hunting/harming of birds there.
b) They all have fresh water ponds/lakes for the birds to drink from.
c) There are woods on the golf courses for them.
d) There's all that lovely sod & despite the courses being treated for bugs --- we all know how that just seems to make the bugs have population explosions ---- they can eat buggies to their hearts content.
And finally, it seems like sandhills just are naturally friendly to people.
So what's to be done about it? There are no easy solutions if we can find any at all. And it's going to get worse. Every day in Fl. another golf course community is built. Soon neither the humans nor the wildlife will have any fresh water to drink in Florida. But there will be people playing golf! That's my story & I'm stickin' to it!