This April will mark Don’s and my fifth anniversary at Morning Bray Farm.
Every year between October and March, we’re inundated with Sandhill Cranes:
One special crane has visited us every migratory season since October 2007:
What we named her isn’t very creative, but it’s how we’ve always identified her.
Meet Limpy:
She definitely walks with a limp. I believe the pain is in her left knee:
We’ve become quite fond of Limpy. She’s a very pretty bird:
She even has a heart on her head:
We don’t know how old Limpy is, but we do know that the average lifespan of a Sandhill Crane is 20 years. We might just be seeing Limpy for many more years to come.
♥ ♥ ♥
Morning Bray Farm 
February 1, 2012 at 4:28 am
Happy 5th anniversary!
Limpy is absolutely stunning. I hope she visits you for years to come.
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February 1, 2012 at 4:40 am
The heart on her head is awesome.
If she only could tell what happened to her knee.
I´m sure you asked her to stay in case its a too big handicap for a wild bird.
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February 1, 2012 at 4:46 am
Congratulations to you and Don!!!
Love the video! Limpy looks adorable.
Just amazing the heart on their heads.
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February 1, 2012 at 5:02 am
Limpy is another example of how animals just . . . go on despite any little discomfort or impediment. Honestly, if we all would just emulate them in that way, we’d all be better off!
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February 1, 2012 at 5:03 am
Aww…it looks like she may have broken her leg at some point (or the joint). You two are so wonderful to feed not only your growing by leaps and bounds herd/flock/pack, but also the wild ones that come clanging their food bowls, too! Word is out you are the best stop over ever. 🙂
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February 1, 2012 at 6:24 am
Like June said.
No wonder Limpy comes back- she knows she’ll be well taken care of at Morning Bray. Just like all the creatures who live there. Bless your hearts!
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February 1, 2012 at 6:26 am
Great life you guys lead. I’m so jealous.
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February 1, 2012 at 6:38 am
It’s wonderful to hear the sounds of your place.
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February 1, 2012 at 6:44 am
I love their distinctive sound. You guys are so sweet to offer B&B to the flock. Happy anniversary and cheers to many more!
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February 1, 2012 at 7:17 am
Be still my heart. Yours must break into song the first time you see her every year. How cool that she’s distinguishable among the bazillion other cranes that hang out with you.
p.s. I don’t think Dr. D treats birds
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February 1, 2012 at 7:35 am
how wonderful to be visited by cranes every year, that must be like having leggy angels drop in.. I loved this! c
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February 1, 2012 at 7:42 am
Happy Anniversary! So very, very cool that you have SHCs every year and are able to get so close to them. Glad Limpy healed enough to be able to stay with the flock.
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February 1, 2012 at 8:14 am
Miss that sound of the cranes’ callings since my returning home last couple months. Take great care of them specially Limpy! :>D
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February 1, 2012 at 8:16 am
Just took another look at Limpy and golly, she has the heart of red on his/her face and what a beauty it is!!
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February 1, 2012 at 8:32 am
How incredible is that?! I’m sad for Limpy having pain, but so cool that you know she is a repeat visitor. I enjoyed your video as I liked hearing the cranes. I heard that call when a flock went over. At the time we weren’t sure that they were cranes. Now I know!
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February 1, 2012 at 8:38 am
I’d never heard or seen sandhill cranes before. Limpy is especially beautiful. How lovely to hear the cranes and the geese etc. in the background. Waking up at MB to those sounds would be wonderful.
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February 1, 2012 at 10:06 am
I always feel so honored when wildlife takes the time to drop by. Seeing these cranes must be an absolute thrill! I hope Limpy and her flock visit you for many years to come. 🙂
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February 1, 2012 at 10:34 am
I *love* Limpy’s head-heart! 🙂
Congratulations on your (almost) 5 years on the farm!
Jim and I just celebrated our 4th year here on Critter Farm on Jan. 21st!
🙂
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February 1, 2012 at 12:16 pm
As I sit at my desk every day reading your blog, fantasizing on the choices Carson, Danni, and you have made, I wonder how I can get there too. I do love my job yet I am always thinking of ways to combine “ranch” life and my work. I didn’t realize that it has only been 5 years at MBF. I’d love to hear your back story some day.
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February 2, 2012 at 12:41 am
I do love sandhill cranes. The are so pretty and make beautiful music. What a treat to have the same ones come visit every year. Limpy is lovely.
Happy 5th anniversary.
We just celebrated our 5th year at Laughing Orca Ranch last September.
~Lisa
Tijeras, NM
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February 2, 2012 at 6:53 am
A bunch of disconnected thought fragments:
They are amazing birds.
I agree that it’s very cool that you have a way to recognize one individual!
If you have to have a knee injury, how excellent if you generally travel on wings!
It looks like a summertime Michigan golf course — sandhills and Canada geese. 🙂
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February 3, 2012 at 7:19 am
Congrarulations on your forthcoming anniversary – we’ve just celebrated out ninth at Garybuie.
Christine
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February 3, 2012 at 11:29 am
Oh, ouch! It definitely looks like a knee problem, poor girl. How cool to see her every year.
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February 5, 2012 at 6:41 am
It’s so awesome that they stop over every year on their migrations. I never noticed the head marking before. It’s such a beautiful heart. I will always look for Limpy whenever I see a flock of Sandhill Cranes from now on.
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