Sandhill Crane End Week 8

Sandhill Crane Despite a very wet couple of days at the end of the week, the juvenile felt full of energy.

Sandhill Crane Feathers ruffled more from excitement than anything else. Always something to be excited about.

Sandhill Crane Wing flapping while running takes up more and more of the time.

Sandhill Crane Being wet excites the parents much less.

Sandhill Crane Droopy wings seem to express the mood.

Sandhill Crane For the juvenile the sky is more interesting by the hour. Something up there calls.

Sandhill Crane And this is what it is. Another run with an impressive display of the fine wings.

Sandhill Crane The wings have taken on a life of their own, not wanting to be tucked back in. They need to be used.

Sandhill Crane With all the rain, foraging has become more difficult since the mud sticks readily to the probing bills.

Sandhill Crane Despite the juvenile being almost as large as the parents, the parents continue to offer food. Fuel.

Sandhill Crane Side by side for comparison. Almost there. The tail feathers have not quite kept up yet.

Sandhill Crane Being the center of the universe for its entire life of barely two months might make socializing outside the family difficult.

Sandhill Crane The ability to stand on one leg is coming along nicely too.

Sandhill Crane Things stick to the bill with all the mud glue, requiring a careful cleaning with the foot.

Sandhill Crane Sharing worm parts.

Sandhill Crane Enough of eating, time for more flapping practice.

Sandhill Crane After a run ahead of the parents, the juvenile pauses and stares for the longest time at the pond and beckoning sky.

Sandhill Crane And off again, full of steam and enthusiasm and need.

Sandhill Crane A near collison with the flowers and weeds as an excited parent follows along with the almost flight.

Sandhill Crane Flapping, flapping, standing tall. Are the parents aware of how close the juvenile is to making it up into the air?

Sandhill Crane More food, but the offer seems as reluctant as the demand is strong.

Sandhill Crane Emerging from the vegetation into the open, the juvenile does a couple of good, strong flaps.

Sandhill Crane And a little lift-off, across the walkway, but not a lot of elevation.

Sandhill Crane Still airborne, another flap or two, another few feet.

Sandhill Crane Mid-flight, in the air, coasting.

Sandhill Crane And touch-down, a huge flight of ten or twelve feet. The neck feathers start to ruffle from the excitement of it all.

Sandhill Crane Finishing up and a full ruffling of the feathers. A good start.

Sandhill Crane That calls for one thing to express the vast thrill of it all. A quick squat and poop. Something had to give.

Sandhill Crane Back to business as usual. The juvenile's wings will not stay put. One parent echoes some of the excitement.

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