Sandhill cranes and chicks

This is the perfect time of year to talk about Sandhill Cranes. We have just had a few nests hatch and we have little chicks everywhere.

Some people do not know what a Sandhill Crane is.  Well, they are very large, tall grey birds with a long neck, long legs, and very broad wings.  They weigh only between 6-14 pounds and stand between 3-5 feet tall. 

These amazing birds mate for life, but if one bird dies, they do find another mate.  The female picks their mates based on dancing displays. The male birds stretch their wings, leap into the air all while their head goes up and down.

Cranes build their nests on the ground and use different plant material found in the area. They have, normally, 2 eggs and take turns guarding the nest. It only takes about a month for the eggs the hatch, and boy are they cute. Image baby yellow chickens with long legs. But sadly, most of the time only one chick will make it to be an adult.

After hatching, baby cranes are dependent on the parents for food. They will be fed earth worms and grubs mostly. But after only 2 month they are pretty independent. They eat a variety of animals, including frogs, small animals, insects and snakes, along with grains.

Mated pairs and their babies stay together all through the winter, until the 9 to 10 month old babies finally separate from their parents the following spring.

 They spend their winter in Florida, Texas, Utah, Mexico and California.  The Florida sandhill crane is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and can not be hunted.