Driving north across the
eastern half of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) on Interstate-75, I can
recall the southern rocky cliff shores of this great lake shifting to flatter
rolling plains inland. While the
land and climate are not supportive of most agricultural crops Michigan is
known for, the U.P. is heavily forested and the source of a logging industry
that dates back to the mid to late 1800s.
The U.P.’s eastern half also contains many swampy and tall grassy
habitats providng homes for a diverse range of wildlife.
Sandhill Cranes prefer flat open fields (photo: Gay Schroer)
On what is a rather
monotonous stretch of driving for the average individual, I had a very close
encounter with a native bird species.
I was driving south toward home during a college break, when, quite
casually, the tall gangly form of a Sandhill Crane entered the road after
leaving a section of tall grass. I
swerved around the crane in plenty of time, of course, and the Sandhill Crane
carried on in its stroll unperturbed.
Just goes to show you deer aren’t the only large animal you need to
watch out for on the road!
An adult Sandhill
Crane (photo: wikipedia)
Sandhill Cranes (Grus
Canadensis) are a heron-size species with a height upwards of four feet and
weighing as much as ten pounds.
They have a larger body tapering off to a long slender neck and small
head. Atop their head is a red
patc, and their body is mostly slate gray with an overlay of reddish-brown on
their upper body. The crane’s long
legs are black.
The long and slender body
of the cranes creates a gangly gracefulness in its movements. During the breeding season, the male
dances elaborately to impress his desired female. The courting male will stretch and raise its wings, bob and
bow its head, and jump up and down.
These elegant birds live
in open habitats of prairies, grasslands, and wetlands during the breeding
season, while spending the winter near deeper waters. They probe through shallow waters and soft ground with their
long beaks for seeds, grains, berries, insects, small reptiles, amphibians,
mammals and nestling birds.
Two Sandhill Cranes foraging in a
grassy field (photo: wikipedia)
The Sandhill Crane is
known for its trumpet-like rolling call.
The call is loud enough to be heard from miles away when they gather
into very large flocks (tens of thousands) for migration. To hear the Sandhill Crane’s
vocalizations Click Here
If you would like to learn
more about Sandhill Cranes, come visit the World Bird Sanctuary to talk to our
naturalists and meet our resident Sandhill Cranes, Shawnee and Menomenee, which
live on our display line.
WBS’s resident Sandhill
Cranes, Shawnee & Menomenee (photo: Gay Schroer)
As with all of our
resident animals, Shawnee and Menomenee are available for adoption through our
Adopt A Bird program. To adopt
Shawnee or Menomenee Click Here.
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