Cranes in the lake

Sandhill cranes with chicks at the lake. Florida.... more

by Zina Stromberg

Title

Cranes in the lake

Artist

Zina Stromberg

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Sandhill cranes with chicks at the lake. Florida.

Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis).
Sandhill cranes are tall, gray-bodied, crimson-capped birds,have red foreheads, white cheeks and long dark pointed bills.
They mate for life. Females lay one to three (usually two) oval eggs.Both parents incubate the eggs for about 30 days.The chicks are able to leave the nest within a day.The parents feeding them intensively.
Juveniles stick close by their parents for 9 or 10 months after hatching.
After leaving their parents, the chicks form nomadic flocks with other juveniles and non-breeders. Sandhill Cranes may reach the age of seven before breeding, but some can start breeding at two years of age.sandhill cranes are at risk from predators. Mammals like foxes, raccoons, coyotes, wolves, bobcats and lynx often hunt them. Corvids, such as ravens and crows, and smaller raptors like hawks feed on young cranes and eggs. Cranes of all ages are hunted by eagles, large owls and Peregrine falcons.
Sandhill cranes defend themselves and their young from aerial predators by jumping and kicking. For land predators cranes are hissing, with their wings open and bill pointed and can stabs with its bill and kick.
The Sandhill Cranes call is a loud, there dance is very graceful and energetic with the stretching there wings, and pumping their heads.

Uploaded

July 22nd, 2013