Sandhills Feeding among the Geese

[Bo Zarts]

Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico
© 2023 Bo Zarts Studio

[GentryDixon]

1. Sandhill Cranes are my favorite!

I love their honks. 🎶🎶

[rampartc]

2. i accidentally encountered a sandhill crane at theodore al (on mobile bay.) they are magnificent.

and so rare that i was almost as startled as he was.

i have never seen a live whooping crane, but they are reestablishing a breeding population in iouisiana so maybe before i die.

[Probatim]

3. My first experience with a sandhill was in a Michigan State Park about 20 years ago.

I heard the honk and the lizard part of my brain wanted me to run as fast as I could to the car - the rational part of my brain said "velociraptors have been extinct for at least 60 million years". I ended up seeing 8-10 of them that afternoon.

My brother had a similar experience in Florida about 10 years later. He was at a jobsite removing tools from the side of his van and a sandhill was investigating other tools in the rear of the van. He came around the open back doors and found himself eye to eye with the bird. He says he needed a drink after it squawked at him - his boys (and me) said he needed to change his pants.

They are magnificent birds and I really enjoy watching them in flight and touching down at the end of their flights.