Bird pic: A big, red-headed bird stopped by (a real bird, not a girl!)

EddieWalker · Apr 10, 2012

Nice pics. I don't think I've ever seen one in person.

Seems like when something cool like that happens, most of the time, I don't have my camera with me.

Eddie

beppington · Apr 10, 2012

jimmyj said:
Neat pictures. What is that contraption in the background in pic number 2? A laundry dryer?

A "hot walker" for automatically walking your horse(s) after running to cool them down slowly. It was there when my parents bought the place, but my parents have only mini horses (not ride-able!). It isn't connected. Prev owners included in the contract that they wanted it & would come get it. That was over 2 years ago now.

Should work as a laundry dryer, too, though! :thumbsup:

jonyyuma · Apr 10, 2012

Bepp, your crane looks to be as Big as the Large Great blueheron that visits my pond in the ozarks...Maybe your bird was looking for Love, and also a fish??

beppington · Apr 10, 2012

jonyyuma said:
Bepp, your crane looks to be as Big as the Large Great blueheron that visits my pond in the ozarks...Maybe your bird was looking for Love, and also a fish??

May be - He did fly off toward the nearby little pond.

MossRoad · Apr 10, 2012

Bird said:
I guess I tend to think of the herons as being about the same as cranes, but maybe they don't taste similar.:laughing:

Oh, here we call them Pterodactyls
:laughing:

QRTRHRS · Apr 10, 2012

They stop over en mass' in Grand Island, Nebraska. Quite the sight and sound to see them take off from the river where they gather overnight before taking flight to feed out on the farm fields.

jinman · Apr 11, 2012

I suspect that one bird by itself is disoriented and looking for something to be a "flock." That may be why it allowed people so close to it. It may also prove to be its downfall with predators too. That sure is a great looking bird, especially with the backdrop of the flower bed and yard. I'm pretty sure that what most people call "geese" here are really sandhill cranes flying over.

Little Red Tractor · Apr 11, 2012

These cranes are something we don't get up in my part of the country...at least usually. A friend of mine has seen one not far from here, but that's the furthest north I've ever heard of. Beautiful bird!

MossRoad · Apr 12, 2012

Around here were "hear" them well before we see them. Once you have heard them, you will never forget that call. They tend to soar in a straight line, rather than a V like geese. And they tend to use thermals to climb in a big spiral without flapping. Pretty cool to see 40-50 of them come along and then just start to circle without flapping as they all climb up a few thousand feet, then off they go again. Something to see that migration if you every get a chance. :thumbsup: