Hi everyone, I thought I would update you today on the Sand hill cranes. Yesterday I drove by there and she was standing up putting a few more pieces of grass and sticks around her nest. When she got it arranged to her satisfaction, she sat back down on it. I only could see ONE egg. I was puzzled as to what might have happened to the other. I could see her mate fairly close to her in some tall grass.
Today, I went back by and she is still on the nest. He is across a little bit of water on another little hillside and looking VERY closely, I could see a wee chick with him, at his feet, very tiny. Almost all you see is a bit of yellow fluff. He is pecking away and the chick is with him every step! So, we have one hatched and one to go!!
If you will enlarge this last photo by clicking on it, you will see a little bit of yellow color at his feet. Believe it or not, this is a baby Sand Hill Crane! I promise to get a better photo soon. It is very hard to get a picture, as they are pretty much inaccessible. Just wanted you to know that one baby is alive and well.
I found out that the birds moved the eggs themselves. They carried one each with their feet, flying them to safety! Pretty amazing!
She seems to be nesting very close to a road. Good news one has hatched.
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty amazing. Compared to the dad, the chick is pretty small. I hope they can protect it from predators.
ReplyDeleteThat is great. I can't see the baby but I think it is wonderful that they can still hatch one in such an urban place.
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