Sandhill Crane How a Sandhill Crane lays down, knees bending backwards, with a very careful kneel. |
Sandhill Crane Then plop breast-first on the ground over the extended legs and feet. |
Sandhill Crane Then fall asleep. This was about a fifteen minute nap with open eyes every few minutes. |
Sandhill Crane Possible foods are still being analyzed. Here the fallen blossom of a flowering tree. Take a minute or two to decide. Nope. |
Sandhill Crane After receiving a worm, the juvenile immediately wanted more, but all the parent had was mud and grass in its bill. |
Sandhill Crane Insects in the bark of a large tree are good. |
Sandhill Crane Possibly the favorite food is a worm, just received from a parent. |
Sandhill Crane All three as they make the morning rounds searching for insects, worms and the odd mouse. |
Sandhill Crane The most important items on the agenda are wings and how to use them. A parent shows off to a rapt audience. |
Sandhill Crane Flight feathers are coming into their own, beautifully formed. |
Sandhill Crane Exercising wings and muscles. Soon the discovery of flight once strong enough and the flapping vigorous enough. |
Sandhill Crane Tucking in the equipment, but not for long. |
Sandhill Crane The parents know better, but the juvenile has to also discover for itself not all things are edible. |
Sandhill Crane A simultaneous wing and leg stretch. The opposite side is done next, almost like a tai chi move. |
Sandhill Crane One adult flaps enough that it stirs up the other adult, causing a few loud comments. |
Sandhill Crane With both adults flaring their wings, the juvenile becomes excited too, showing it with a good general feather ruffling. |
Sandhill Crane With the parents briefly done, the juvenile is just getting warmed up. |
Sandhill Crane One adult runs and takes off in the direction of the pond, with the juvenile flapping along behind, still on the ground. |
Sandhill Crane This is serious excitement. |
Sandhill Crane Wings wobble back and forth, a banking movement while running in the direction of the adult that flew off. |
Sandhill Crane A good lean is part of a real take-off. Pieces of the flight puzzle slowly coming together. |
Sandhill Crane Another small jump and flapping, but things are not quite there yet. |
Sandhill Crane Wings back down, neck very ruffled from excitement. |
Sandhill Crane A turn and off again as the flying adult banks over the pond, coming back. |
Sandhill Crane Running, running, flapping, leaning. Serious business. |
Sandhill Crane The remaining adult runs and flaps after the juvenile. All this earthbound business is getting a bit much. |
Sandhill Crane The juvenile looks quite streamlined and ready for flight. |
Sandhill Crane Another little leap, flapping harder and harder. |
Sandhill Crane But no lift-off yet. |
Sandhill Crane The parent flies over from behind as the first one returns from the brief flight and lands. More lessons to go. They resume strolling and eating as a trio. |
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