Sandhill Cranes

[jimg]

My wife snapped these 'actions' shots of Sandhill Cranes taking off/landing in our front field. They congregate over on the TN and Hiawassee Rivers not too far from me. In fact I can hear them most of the time from my home. They're *really* big birds!

 

[Egon]

I liked watching in flight in Alberta. Circling to gain altitude and then disappearing in seconds when the proper wind was reached. There sound is also intriguing.

Of course their flight usually predated a nice storm by three or four days!

I do miss seeing them in Nova Scotia.

 

[RobS]

Fun pics Jim. The Sandhills migrate through our area in the fall and I had a chance to see them at Jasper-Pulaski SWA in October. Really amazing to see 10,000 of them all congregating in a big field. The park has a large viewing platform set up just for us humans to enjoy the birds.

Here's a link to some shots I got... cranes

 

[Bird]

I have never heard of anyone eating any other kind of "crane" or "heron", yet I understand the Sandhill Cranes are hunted for food. Can anyone tell me why?

 

[RobS]

I have never heard of anyone eating any other kind of "crane" or "heron", yet I understand the Sandhill Cranes are hunted for food. Can anyone tell me why?

Maybe 'cause they're big! One crane would feed a family but you'd have to kill a lot of quail to do the same.

Seriously, I've not heard that they were hunted. If they congregate routinely, like I saw I could see where they might be considered an annoyance but I think they only do that at migration time. Canada Geese, on the other hand...

 

[Bird]

Maybe 'cause they're big! One crane would feed a family but you'd have to kill a lot of quail to do the same.

Seriously, I've not heard that they were hunted. If they congregate routinely, like I saw I could see where they might be considered an annoyance but I think they only do that at migration time. Canada Geese, on the other hand...

Rob, if you google Sandhill Crane hunting, you'll find they're hunted in many states from North Dakota to Texas and Arizona. And to get a better perspective of their size, look at this site.

 

[RobS]

That is interesting Bird, I had no idea they were hunted. Up here, they are acclaimed for the annual migration and stop-over at the park. They even declare no hunting zones during that time of the year to avoid disturbing the birds (the area is a state game area aside from the cranes). And yes, they are huge and rather clumsy on take off/landing. It's quite a sight to see. Here's a link...

Jasper-Pulaski

 

[jimg]

Surprising and interesting...they certainly arent game birds here. Wonder what they taste like? Guess Ill have to go to TX to discover that.

 

[Bird]

Wonder what they taste like?

I sure do wonder about that myself. On the Internet, you'll find them called "rib-eye in the sky", filet mignon, etc., but you'll also find others who say they are terrible. But isn't that true of nearly all game? I have a friend who swears that there is no way in the world that a goose can be prepared so that it's fit to eat.

 

[milkman]

I love the sound of these guys, I caught a flock headed south back in Nov, a few pics of them here. I too have seen them circle for quite a while and then they're gone.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/photos/111645-glad-see-these-guys.html

 

[virgil]

Why would you hunt them for food? Because they tast GOOD. Dark meat much like dove. Only the brest is good to eat, the legs are full of leaders or tendons. they stink pretty bad especially when you have to tote em 2 or 3 miles back to the pickup.
make fahitas out of em...good good good.

Fun to hunt, they have real good eye sight, and make a big CRASH when the hit the ground. In Texas they are not considered waterfowl, therefore you can use lead shot.

 

[virgil]

I busted one several years ago that had a coller on its neck and leg.
I called in the numbers on the collers, the state sent me a certifacate that stated the bird was tagged in Fairbanks Alaska and the date it was tagged.
I do not remember the number of years between the tagging and the harvest, but it was like 3 or 4 years.... I did not know they lived that long.
They come down every year, and if they have to, they will go down into Mexico to find what they need. (food, water)
WOW... a 6 pound bird traveling from Alaska to Mexico every year, flying in circles all the way, thats a lot of miles. No wonder he was tough after he came out of the frying pan.

 

[RobS]

You guys got me going back into my photo archives. Here are a couple more, this time from a morning shoot at Jasper-Pulaski. The clouds were heavy that morning so the light wasn't anything great but the birds were there.

Enjoy...

 

[Cottonhawk]

RobS,
Nice pics.