11/28/16
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Sandhill Crane Two adults and the 24 week old juvenile forage in the small prairie area next to Tiedeman's Pond. |
Sandhill Crane The juvenile is bigger than either parent, so it may well be a male. Its crown is changing color. |
Sandhill Crane All three are more alert than in the past, not for any one thing in particular. Maybe it's the migration thrill ramping up. |
Sandhill Crane As always one generally is studying the surroundings when the other two are busy with their heads down. |
Sandhill Crane Even the juvenile has guard duty now. |
Sandhill Crane Looking off over the pond at a few Canada Geese endlessly yakking away as they like doing. |
Sandhill Crane Something over there interesting to more than one for the moment. |
Sandhill Crane With such a thoughtful stare and scrutiny, it makes you wonder what's going on in its head. |
Sandhill Crane When heads are down it's easy to tell what the thoughts of the moment are. |
Sandhill Crane Now the gaze wanders to the nearby hiking trail busy with talking people and their dogs. They might be thinking about handouts from one house. |
Sandhill Crane A lot of natural foraging in the muck of the marshy area and retaining ponds. Crossing in a row to the opposite side. |
Sandhill Crane The juvenile veers off to the right as the two adults ascend the bank. |
Sandhill Crane A few swivels and concentrated glares from the juvenile, but nothing edible flickers below the dark surface. |
Sandhill Crane The juvenile followed its parents, but turned at the edge of the small pond for one last look. No luck. |
Sandhill Crane Breaking the always on watch rule, the adult supposed to be on sentry instead does a bit of grooming. |
Sandhill Crane After that they head down in the bubbling mud at the edge of Tiedeman's Pond itself. |
Sandhill Crane This is where the long legs come in handy. They waded in almost up to their bellies before returning. |
Sandhill Crane More hunting, but not much going on in the food pantry. |
Sandhill Crane More people passing require more stares to be sure it's still safe. |
Sandhill Crane Now they spend much more of their time studying what's way off there than foraging, even more so than in the summer. |
Sandhill Crane Off for another try at the edge of Tiedeman's Pond. |
Sandhill Crane That lasted for only a minute. Then all headed back toward the building just north of the little park on the west side. |
Sandhill Crane The juvenile led the way onto the gravel path. |
Sandhill Crane Pausing at the new textures, they studied things a bit before crossing toward the condos nearby. |
Sandhill Crane The juvenile still has a white toe nail that it had all summer, so that hasn't changed yet, if it will? |
Sandhill Crane Maybe go back to the pond. There might be overlooked prey there. Nope |
Sandhill Crane The juvenile approaches a bird bath to see if it might have good water or not. |
Sandhill Crane Yes. Then in for a drink at the bird bath at a convenient height for a young crane. Within a few weeks they'll be in New Mexico or Texas and the juvenile will be on its own not too many weeks after that. The next phase in its life... |
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