Great photos—thanks! We saw quite a few on our recent trip to Wisconsin. Good to see so many.

THE SANDHILLS ARE BACK, THE SANDHILLS ARE BACK, THE SANDHILLS ARE BACK!!

About 3 weeks later than their norm, nonetheless; they’re back for the umpteenth time of doing their thing — propagating their species and entertaining the neighborhood. Many things have crossed our minds for their delay in returning . . . could they have been shot, were they victims of the bird flu, did one or both of the mated pair die of old age or it could have been any number of the many challenges lurking in their world.

But, who cares? They’re back!

Look at what just showed up for the 15th consecutive year!

Although they're nearly two weeks behind their usual show up date, they do have an excusable alibi -- 12 days ago our local area here in Northcentral Wisconsin received a record breaking 30.9" of snow in one 24 hour day. As of today, most of the snow has melted leaving just snowbanks and that in the shaded areas.

Last year's production of babies was nil, we'll see what 2026 brings us....

Thanks for the update! I actually saw a pair near our farm this past year. First time ever.

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.

Great Blue Heron
 

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?