It's Cranemania around here!

[Frank Good]

Spring has finally sprung(somewhat, it's below freezing, blowing and snowing again today) and the resident Cranes have started appearing along with hoardes of other waterfowl.

[Wild Skies]

Somewhat similar in appearance, but not related to the Sandhill Crane is a new visitor to our backyard is this Great Blue Heron - a pleasant site on this 4th of July.

Update on the Sandhills: After arrival back to Wisconsin in mid-March from their wintering grounds our nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes were on-the-nest for the month of April, only one of the pair was seen. By mid-May when we we would typically see the pair parading their little babies around the neighborhood, but this season nothing. The nesting apparently unsuccessful. We don't know what happened...we had a teriffic hail storm, our neighborhood were in the epicenter of up to 1.75" diameter hail that went on for 20 minutes -- every house in our neighborhood is getting new roofs, siding, etc. So, were the Sandhill babies a casualty of the hail, a preditor or some other shark lurking in their world?

[John Walters]

I understand they are legal to hunt in Canada and considered excellent eating. The meat is redish and they call it ribeye in the sky. I live in Florida they are protected here and we have lots of them walking around like they own the place. I enjoy watching them with the younger ones the bad part is they walk across busy streets with out fear thankfully the drivers slow down or stop for them. Most of the time they just walk but when they fly it is a thing of beauty.

[Wild Skies]

Our neighborhood pair of nesting Sandhill Cranes are back for their 8th consecutive year. There's still a bunch of snow on the ground and it got down to 4 above last night.

You've got to wonder what this Sandhill might be thinkin'?

[Gary Laudermilch]

I pretty much know what he/she is thinking, "What the ****". The very same thing many of us are thinking.

[Wild Skies]

This, the 8th consecutive year of successfully nesting, our neighborhood family of Sandhill Cranes has produced just one offspring this year. These photos, taken just moments ago, show the proud parents taking their little baby out for a stroll while others look on in amazement:

[Wild Skies]

The talk of the neighborhood is growing like a weed.

[OH Osthaus]

Greg- these updates are great - thank you

[John Walters]

They hunt them in Canada the meat is said to be red and very good. They call them rib eye in the sky. We have lots of them here in Florida they walk right into traffic not to smart but the people know them and are careful. Just could not see shooting them but pass shooting them flying high is at least sporting and fair to the Cranes.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by John Walters

~ ~ snip ~ ~ Just could not see shooting them but pass shooting them flying high is at least sporting and fair to the Cranes.

I wonder what the Cranes would think about that?