We’re excited. They’ve been returning in waves over the last few days.
The sandhill cranes are back.
I remember reading somewhere that they are one of the loudest, if not the loudest bird species.
Here’s what we’ve been listening to:  |
This is their unison call. Unison calls are produced by a pair of birds. This call, performed with the birds standing close to each other and in a synchronized duet, is a way of reinforcing the pair bond between a female and a male bird. It may also be used by a pair to threaten predators or other cranes.
Morning Bray Farm 
October 21, 2011 at 6:25 am
That’s exactly what they sound like when we come upon them trail riding. Didn’t know it had a name.
Anyway, I think I’ll keep coming back to this link while I miss the crans in WI this winter.
I think that HUGE flock (or one just like it) was up here just two weeks ago. We went on a trailer outing, and saw hundreds of these gathering in the corn fields for the flight south. Magnificent to see so many at one.
Enjoy them and then send them back in May, okay?
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October 21, 2011 at 6:25 am
Cranes, I can spell…
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October 21, 2011 at 6:26 am
Once, I can spell…really I can. (I just can’t seem to proofread…that’s all!)
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October 21, 2011 at 8:17 am
C,
You betcha. It is magnificent seeing so many at once… I agree. 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 6:54 am
That’s something special to have landing in your pastures. We have blackbirds:-(
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October 21, 2011 at 8:16 am
Denise,
It’s pretty cool. 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 6:57 am
I expected those to be Canada geese. 🙂 They sound very exotic to me, like some African jungle bird. (the cranes, not the geese)
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October 21, 2011 at 8:16 am
Flartus,
I can remember seeing them for the very first time when I moved here from Maryland. I think I saw a lone flock of five and remember being sooo excited. I could have never imagined the masses we’d be seeing and that they’d be spending every winter with us!
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October 21, 2011 at 7:15 am
Justina you are so fortunate to see these in your backyard. We see them in the spring, but we have to go up to the Platte in Nebraska. LOVE love that sound….
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October 21, 2011 at 8:14 am
Suzanne,
Seeing them up in Nebraska is on my bucket list. 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 7:51 am
I think it must be wonderful to begin to hear bird sounds at this time of year, instead of listening to the No Bird Sounds. :-\
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October 21, 2011 at 8:14 am
June,
It is. 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 7:54 am
Yep, the cranes were having a pow wow yesterday and we really enjoyed watching them. Also Big Red and Bernard playing….”no I’m biting your neck”. “oh no, I’m biting your neck”. MBF is such a magickal place. Happy cookies.
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October 21, 2011 at 8:07 am
Linda,
You must know that these words are constantly coming from my mouth: “Please don’t bite your brother.” 🙂 Thank you again for the cookies… the Boyz and Gracie Belle are loving them. 🙂 xoxo
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October 21, 2011 at 8:16 am
Justina, can you record some Donkey brays? Would love to hear that sound !!
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October 21, 2011 at 9:00 am
Bibi,
You betcha. I’ll be happy to… and I’m positive that the Boyz and Gracie will be willing participants. 🙂 The only one who has never uttered a peep is Nigel.
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October 21, 2011 at 9:46 am
Oh, what a brilliant Idea, Bibi! Justina, I imagine you can tell all their voices apart? I didn’t know that Nigel had never brayed. Wonder if he has a speech impediment…;)
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October 21, 2011 at 10:27 am
Flartus,
Yes, each of them has a very distinct bray. Gracie’s starts out very low and ends up extremely loud (demanding). Bernard’s is quite consistent tonewise – somewhat deep – and very loud throughout (bratty). Patrick’s is very high pitched (and quite cute) (like he’s always saying, “What about me?!!”)… and Ellsworth’s has morphed more into a very pathetic whine that ends up with snorts (“Oh, I’m starrrvvving… pleeese feed me”.) 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 8:33 am
Oh, you lucky girl!!!!!!! I think sandhill cranes are beautiful and we see them only rarely as they fly over.
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October 21, 2011 at 9:00 am
Sue,
Yes, we do feel lucky. Have a great weekend!
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October 21, 2011 at 8:56 am
I’ll bet the Audubon folks would love to know about this flock. Maybe do a count? I recently read Sandhills have the oldest fossil record of any known bird (2.5 million years old).
What is your flock eating? Can you tell?
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October 21, 2011 at 9:06 am
CeeCee,
You’re right… they are the oldest known bird species still surviving:
Good question about what they’re eating… I can’t tell. They love the alfalfa field behind us.
This is from the International Crane Foundation:
All cranes are omnivorous. Sandhill Cranes are generalists and feed on a wide variety of plant tubers, grains, small vertebrates (e.g. mice and snakes), and invertebrates such as insects or worms. Sandhills find these foods in uplands and in shallow wetlands. Like most cranes, flightless chicks forage primarily on a diet of insects and other protein filled foods during their early stages of rapid growth. The Sandhill’s tendency to feed on plant tubers creates conflicts with farming. Sandhill Cranes are adept at probing in the ground and finding planted agricultural seeds such as corn. When large flocks of cranes feed on planted fields, the damage they cause to an unprotected crop can be severe enough to force the farmer to replant the entire field.
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October 21, 2011 at 11:26 am
How very cool to have so many in your pasture! Some of their vocalizations sound like purrs!
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October 21, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Lilla,
They do, don’t they? 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Oh my! They ARE loud. But, that’s okay as long as they leave before the novelty wears off. *smile*
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October 21, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Carolynn,
They ARE loud… but somehow it always seems too quiet when they leave in the spring. 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Loud perhaps, but not unpleasantly so 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Gayle,
Agreed. 🙂
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October 21, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Aw, I love the cranes! Although, I usually have to go to Bosque to see them so I love your pics and audio. Do they scare/annoy the donkeys?
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October 21, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Lynn,
Glad you enjoyed them!
No, the cranes don’t scare/annoy the donkeys at all. 🙂
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October 24, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Oh, good! So, it’s one big happy family. 🙂
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October 23, 2011 at 3:18 am
Lucky you Justina! What a wonderful noise.
They are early this year I think.
This morning there is ice on my bird bath and frost on the gras the second day. Oh no.
I told you from the photo i took by mistake, four weeks ago. I thought it´s a v of goose I shot. (Together with the moon, wow, big sign, lol.) I thougt that´s for Justina. But zooming in I saw cranes….. maybe on their way to Morning Bray Farm. Maybe? Sure!
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