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One Sandhill Crane's Story Begins, Part I
By Delores Knowles
Sandhill Cranes (Grus Canadensis) are quite common in many parts of Florida, and the pond in back of our house and its surrounding marshy bank has served as a smorgasbord to many of them. One mated pair in particular became regular visitors during this past year. About the middle of February, they began to build their nest choosing, what was to me, a most perilous location. A small sandbar lay about 20 feet off shore with only the tiniest bit of land visible beneath the water’s surface. It was there that the two of them worked diligently bring sticks and weeds until they had built a platform rising about eight inches above the water line and stretching two feet across. The location was made particularly perilous because of some alligators who made their home in the pond. Late in the month, the female began setting on the nest for longer periods of time, and on February 27, when she stood to stretch her legs, there was one egg in the nest. The next day, there were two. After seeing their intention, I began to accustom them to my presence by going down to the pond’s edge late each afternoon. I would sit on the bank opposite the nest with my tripod-mounted camera between my legs watching them. On March 26, disaster almost struck. The female was on the nest, the male was on the far bank feeding, and I was in my accustomed place. Suddenly a few feet away, an alligator raised his head. The male must have seen the movement about the same time I did for suddenly he came tearing down the bank and into the water with both of his hugh wings flapping and honking loudly. He was headed straight for the ‘gator who ducked back under the water and disappeared. The male came to stand by the nest but kept his head turned in the direction he had last seen the alligator. The female stepped off the nest and stood by the male but with her head facing the opposite direction. They stood like that for about 10 minutes, and then she resumed her position on the nest. When darkness came, and I had to go back in the house, the male was still standing guard on full alert. On the evening of March 28, when the female stood up and stretched out her long legs, there was a little head peeking over the edge of the nest. The second egg never hatched, and after two more days, it was discarded into the water. By the fifth day, the chick was accompanying mom and dad as they made their feeding rounds on the bank.
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Contributor's Note
All images shown were taken by me and are protected by copyright laws.
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Mated Cranes at their nest
Mama Crane checking eggs
Papa Crane chasing 'Gator
Standing vigilant after 'Gator scare
Newly hatched peeping over top of nest
Five Days Old with Mama and Papa
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
Birds and Such
Informational site about Wild Birds
www.birdsandsuch.com
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The copyright for this content entitled "One Sandhill Crane's Story Begins, Part I" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
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