Sandhill Crane Start Week 6

Sandhill Crane At the start of week six, the wings and tail feathers are definitely growing into real feathers, pushing off the down.

Sandhill Crane The stride casually covers a couple of feet, but on the run can span up to several feet at a time.

Sandhill Crane Part of the daily routine are a huge number of naps. Another is about to start.

Sandhill Crane The mandatory guard parent is also drowsy, but takes the opportunity of the pause to do a bit of careful grooming.

Sandhill Crane Out of character in the daytime, a parent lays down to rest. Of course the juvenile gets up soon after that.

Sandhill Crane A tired adult nods off, head swaying back and forth it starts to doze.

Sandhill Crane Up again, waking the parent. The other parent stands nearby, doing the real guard duty.

Sandhill Crane Finally up for another feeding stint, the juvenile goes through a few wing stretches to limber up.

Sandhill Crane It spends a fair amount of time running from parent to parent when they offer morsels of food.

Sandhill Crane This one looks like a live hornet.

Sandhill Crane Synchronized strolling and eating.

Sandhill Crane The almost independent juvenile leads the way.

Sandhill Crane Lift off. Some vigorous flapping and a little jump and it gets off the ground a few inches.

Sandhill Crane More flapping while attached to the earth. The vanishing down feathers on the ends of the flight feathers are quite visible.

Sandhill Crane Tucking the wings back in.

Sandhill Crane More food from a dutiful parent.

Sandhill Crane The base of a tree in the shade proves interesting for awhile.

Sandhill Crane Silhouette of the day.

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