There’s a mating pair of sandhill cranes that will raise chicks in my parents backyard every couple years. They’re surprisingly big birds and are really nice to see each year
We have a couple in our yard every year, too. They know us at this point and while they aren't exactly friendly, they don't run away when we are near or drive by, either.
We also have another pair in our wetlands who are definitely unfriendly. Just step foot within their sight and they yell at you until you leave.
We get a ton of them around us every year... we live in one of the areas where they gather before they migrate, so each spring and fall, they will all converge together for a day or two before taking off, and we'll see anywhere from a few dozen to a couple hundred together in a field.
They are massive. I'd heard them forever but never actually seen one up close until early one morning this summer I saw two of them walking down the street like they owned the place. No idea what they were, but googling a description told me pretty quick.
...And this is how I learn that the line "Steele Dakota's sandhill crane" from mewithoutYou's Nine Stories is talking about a bird species and not a literal mechanical crane. Apparently they have the largest sculpture of a sandhill crane in the world at 40ft (which makes more sense in the context of the song than a mechnical one!) https://www.ndtourism.com/steele/attractions-entertainment/f...
>Such interspecies adoptions appear to have become more common in recent years
Or humans have been noticing them more. If this happened every year in a deserted area then nobody would know. Equally if some yokel saw it happening regularly in the past, they probably wouldn't have contacted anyone who would publish it to the world. They also probably were not carrying a camera in their pocket.
You know that geese fly in V's to reduce air resistance, right? Ever notice that one side of the V is often longer than the other? You know why?
(At this point, you will get a pause, followed by a hesitant but very carefully worded explanation about northern hemisphere rotation, rising air, sun glints, or what-have-you.)
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We also have another pair in our wetlands who are definitely unfriendly. Just step foot within their sight and they yell at you until you leave.
We get a ton of them around us every year... we live in one of the areas where they gather before they migrate, so each spring and fall, they will all converge together for a day or two before taking off, and we'll see anywhere from a few dozen to a couple hundred together in a field.
If anyone is curious, this map shows where they are at different times of year: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/maps-rang...
Or humans have been noticing them more. If this happened every year in a deserted area then nobody would know. Equally if some yokel saw it happening regularly in the past, they probably wouldn't have contacted anyone who would publish it to the world. They also probably were not carrying a camera in their pocket.
- they’re the oldest enduring species of bird on our planet (been around for millions of years)
- they make a very unique call - it’s loud and prehistoric and definitely makes me think pterodactyl
- they’re often called the ribeye of the sky due to their meat (haven't tried it myself, yet)
- they fly in V patterns like geese
- they pair up and remain monogamous for their lives
I’d love to attend the migration one day and see them all together in one spot. The videos on YouTube are surreal.
You know that geese fly in V's to reduce air resistance, right? Ever notice that one side of the V is often longer than the other? You know why?
(At this point, you will get a pause, followed by a hesitant but very carefully worded explanation about northern hemisphere rotation, rising air, sun glints, or what-have-you.)
Nope. It's because geese can't count.