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Sandhill Crane End of Week 6



Sandhill Crane
That time of the day as the youngster wakes up from one of
many naps. As always, a parent has been sitting protectively nearby.


Sandhill Crane
The parent needed to do some serious fluffing up and shaking
to recover from the lay down in the the grass.


Sandhill Crane
The legs look as if they might be growing
faster than everything else.


Sandhill Crane
The heat and hummidity are harder on the youngster than the parents.
What looks like talking could be an effort to cool off.


Sandhill Crane
Coming down after managing to run, flap and lift off several
feet, great new heights in the quest for flight.


Sandhill Crane
Now it almost looks like a brag about the great flight.


Sandhill Crane
Checking for bugs left over from the last nap.


Sandhill Crane
A stare and a pause from the parent brings the
juvenile running for some special food.


Sandhill Crane
Restless with all the nonflying, one of the parents
does a few wing exercises. Next up, flight training.


Sandhill Crane
Hunting food closely together. The legs of the
youngster are almost a long as those of the parent.


Sandhill Crane
A tidbit from the parent, even though the youngster is
now foraging for most of its own food.


Sandhill Crane
Feathers continue to develop rapidly. The little tail feathers
are growing in stature, while the down of the flight feathers has been lost.


Sandhill Crane
Head to head on a food transfer.


Sandhill Crane
Into the jungle of one of the neighborhood back yards
to find bugs on the vegetation.


Sandhill Crane
Yet another passing pedestrian with a dog brings the
adult to full attention. The juvenile pays more attention now.


Sandhill Crane
Flight training. One parent runs and flies by, startling the
juvenile. The parent seems to be trying to stimulate it to do the same.


Sandhill Crane
That ploy did not work as the juvenile
simply runs at full tilt to catch up.


Sandhill Crane
The second parent takes up the cause, zooming up from
behind the running youngster.


Sandhill Crane
A lift-off and short flight. Do it this way. The
youngster still stays in running mode. More lessons required.


Sandhill Crane
Back to the saunter and eat parade.


Sandhill Crane
With the downy fuzz falling off, the youngster begins to
appear a bit ragged around the edges as the more serious feathers take over.


Sandhill Crane
The eyes have not yet reached the brilliant orange of the parents.


Sandhill Crane
Strolling back toward a more rewarding shaded area, and
where there are not pedestrians and dogs.


Sandhill Crane
Protective parent bookends.

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