The sounds of a pair of Florida Sandhill Cranes making traditional croaking or rattling calls evoke thoughts of ancient wild times. This pair is mated for life and is likely a resident pair of Florida Sandhill Cranes. thousands of cranes join the small resident Florida population each winter and they are usually in large groups not mated pairs like these. This pair in remote marshland are very wary of humans however in many suburban areas of Florida and golf courses these huge birds just go about their business oblivious to the people and development around them.
from FWC.com:
Sandhill Crane: Grus canadensis
Appearance:
Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are long-legged, long-necked, gray, heron-like birds with a patch of bald, red skin on top of their head. Cranes fly with necks outstretched like geese, whereas herons fly with necks tucked in on their backs. For positive identification, look for reddish skin on top of the crane's head.
Habitat:
Two subspecies of sandhill crane occur in Florida. The Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis), numbering 4,000 to 5,000, is a non-migratory year-round breeding resident. They are joined every winter by 25,000 migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), the larger of the two subspecies. The greater sandhill crane winters in Florida but nests in the Great Lakes region. Sandhill cranes nest during late winter and spring on mats of vegetation about two feet in diameter and in shallow water.
Behavior:
Two eggs are normally laid. Cranes are monogamous breeders. Within 24 hours of hatching, the young are capable of following their parents away from the nest. Together, they forage for seeds and roots, crop plants such as corn and peanuts, insects, snakes, frogs and occasionally young birds or small mammals.
Cranes are quite omnivorous feeding on seeds, grain, berries, insects, earthworms, mice, small birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, crayfish, but do not "fish" like herons.
Resident sandhill cranes are usually seen in very small groups or pairs. In November and December, however, large flocks of northern cranes move in, more than doubling the population in the state and then leave during March and April. The sandhill crane is a close relative to the nearly extinct whooping crane, which is being reintroduced into the state. Young sandhills weigh about twelve pounds, males are larger than females, but external markings are identical. Cranes live to be older than most birds, some reaching 20 years old.
✷Help support Backyard friends - my AMAZON Backyard shop with products I've bought, use and recommend for making videos, photos and enjoying Nature! A small portion of each sale goes to supporting the Backyard Wildlife without any increased cost to buyer: https://www.amazon.com/shop/mybackyar...
New HD videos uploaded frequently. Subscribe at: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
No comments:
Post a Comment