Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Sandhill Cranes, New Years Day

A beautiful sunny day was quickly waning as cloud cover moved in today in Southern Indiana so I shot image after image as quickly as my camera could focus and snap.



As luck would have it I was able to capture this beautiful image of a juvenile Sandhill Crane with an adult. Juvenile Sandhill Cranes are smaller in stature and have a tan head. I just love seeing the juveniles, but unfortunately it's hard to make them out in the large gathering of Cranes so you take your chances that you've captured one when you're culling your images for the #1's. As is usual with Sandhill Cranes, they were busy eating, drinking, dancing their mating ritual dance, taking off, flying and then landing again.



At one point, however, while I was standing by my car with a stick in hand scraping mud off the bottom of my boots, having walked a short distance into the field, suddenly I heard a major uproar and flapping of wings. I looked over toward the huge gathering of Cranes to see this second image. Quickly I dropped the stick and grabbed my camera. It was going to be Sandhill Crane Palooza for a few minutes and I didn't want to miss it. Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes lifted off unexpectedly making a loud ruckous. Perhaps there was a tremor in the force. In no time every single one of those Cranes dropped down into the same field about an eighth of a mile away. Amazing and definitely a great way to begin 2014. Happy New Year Everyone. ENJOY!

6 comments :

  1. That is a wonderful way to start the New Year. Love the second shot with birds on the ground and in the air. Nice full frame. I can hear the ruckus in my head from past lift offs. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. So lucky to have this experience, Carol. I've never seen a Sandhill Crane in the wild. The flight photo is wonderful!

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  3. What a sight to see! I've never seen one sandhill crane and there you were to capture hundreds. Amazing!

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  4. Was this the photo of the year, and it has only just begun??? wonderful, and from down here I truly cannot imagine that sight. Greetings from Jean

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  5. Ladies and Gent, Thanks so much. It is not that often that the Cranes go willy nilly and fly off in a huge grouping but I was glad they did. Happy New Year All! Carol

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