Each spring we are blessed with the return of the sandhill cranes. I’ll admit, when we first moved here, we were a bit surprised that such large birds would be a yearly fixture in our neighborhood. If you read about them online, you will see that they can travel in large numbers when they fly south, though here, we have not seen that.
Last year we had a family of three come to our bird feeders. What a surprise it was to see the tiny baby, all covered in orange fluff, not yet full feathered. He or she is absolutely adorable, one of the cutest baby birds I’ve ever seen. We watched them come nearly every day, and as the months went by, the baby grew until it was nearly adult sized. The last thing that seemed to change was the color of its beak.
They visited even into the early days of winter when their feathers seemed to whiten with the snow. Fascinating. But one day they stopped coming, no doubt they headed south for warmer climates. Then this year came and the “couple” returned. They actually mated in our backyard – not the least bit bothered that I was watching from the window!
When the feeder is empty, and sometimes when it is not, one of them will walk up the steps to our back door and run its beak down the glass–as if to ask if the restaurant is open! Or there are those moments before we are up, when we hear tapping on the door. One day Kody leaped at the window, letting that bird know that this is his house!
But then one day two became one. The single crane, which I figured was the male, though how do you tell?, came alone. Day after day, he came. I assumed that she was nesting, waiting for their chick to hatch. Sure enough a few days ago, the family was back! Mom, Dad, and baby chick. Be still my heart! That baby is just too cute!
I did a little research about the sandhill crane after seeing the way they are always together, Mom and Dad cautiously on the lookout for predators to their precious chick. They seem to feel safe in our yard because even if we open the door to bring more corn, they don’t fly off. They back up and watch us, but they stick around to eat. Sometimes, they spread their wings or do a little dance. They contort their necks to preen and there are days when our backyard feels like it’s their bathing/preening ground.
But what I find really interesting is that sandhill cranes mate for life. They can live together for two decades or more and their chicks stay close for nine to ten months after hatching.
These cranes are protective of each other. Like the mallard and mama ducks that are also a seasonal staple in our yard, they are always watching for anyone who might hurt the one they are bound to. The mallard often watches while the female eats. The sandhill cranes do the same. I suspect the mama is the one most protective of her chick, but they seem to take turns so they can all eat.
Watching them walk on those thin stalk-like legs, is another amazing sight. I’ve seen them standing in a rainy wind storm and it doesn’t blow them over. How they manage, is beyond me. One year we had one with an injured leg, so he limped as he walked. I found myself praying for him, and one day he was healed. God cares for His creation.
So what’s the lesson I’ve learned from these distinctive creatures? They are devoted to and protective of their family. In a world where human children often live in broken families, are neglected or unwanted, are disposed of if they were “unplanned” and not protected from the evils in society, it feels like we could all learn to be a lot more devoted to those we love. I doubt that these birds understand love. They live on instinct. But the Creator made us more than instinctive so surely, adding instinct to love, we can do even better.
(This is a video of them eating. Click the link to watch.) IMG_0992
By the way, the cranes didn’t abandon the one who limped. He just followed a little more slowly. They’ve scolded the chick if he or she gets out of sight–especially as it grows a little too confident but isn’t quite ready to leave them. Their call is LOUD! Their necks are almost built like a trumpet.
Maybe we all need to take a little more time observing God’s creation. The cardinals are another species that seem to stick together and the male watches out for the female. What a novel thought. How valued are the females and the families by these creatures who don’t even know any better. Something to think about…
~Selah
The Conversation
Amazing! I wonder how they stay that big, eating a peck at a time. Thanks for sharing! That was interesting.
I think they graze all day long. They make the rounds in the neighborhood!