Rocky Mountain Sandhill Cranes

Two Rocky Mountain Sandhill Cranes feed from the shore of the Gunnison River on Colorado's Western Slope.... more

by Janice Pariza

Title

Rocky Mountain Sandhill Cranes

Artist

Janice Pariza

Medium

Painting - Photography Photo Painting Art

Description

Two Rocky Mountain Sandhill Cranes feed from the shore of the Gunnison River on Colorado's Western Slope.
Painting by Topaz Impressions. Edward Hopper 50% Opacity.
This Image placed First in the Contest 'Photo Manipulation'. 12/27/2016
The primary nesting areas for the Rocky Mountain Population of Greater Sandhill Cranes include Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Routt, and Rio Blanco Counties. However, in the last 20 years very small numbers of cranes have been found nesting in Mesa County, western Montrose County, and more recently in Delta County. Nesting may also be occurring in Gunnison County. It�s likely that other nesting locations are known and will be reported as crane populations continue to expand in Colorado.

In the spring, as traditional nesting grounds begin to thaw, pairs of Colorado cranes scatter from staging areas and disperse to nesting territories, which are areas of habitat that are defended against other nesting cranes. Upon settling into a territory, new nest construction commences or annual repairs on old nests begin in earnest. Nests, which are constructed on the ground and usually surrounded by water, are typically composed of small twigs and branches, but grasses and sedges are used as nesting material as well. During the nesting season, cranes tend to be very secretive, not willing to divulge the location of their carefully hidden nests. However, in recent years, cranes are becoming less wary and nests are being found in relatively close proximity to homes and ranches in Routt and Moffat Counties.

Cranes select sites that are almost always closely associated with water. Willow-lined streams or beaver ponds are preferred sites in Colorado. Studies conducted by managers and biologists with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (now Colorado Parks and Wildlife) show that about 50 percent of the nests are associated with North America�s largest rodent, the beaver. Crane nests are constructed on beaver lodges, beaver dams or on grassy hummocks in and around the ponds. A few nests have been documented in upland areas, often in sagebrush but close to water sources. Some nest sites in Colorado have been occupied almost continuously for 25-30 years or longer.

For Information
Join My Mailing List;
janice-rae-pariza.pixels.com

Copyright Janice Rae Pariza producer of Crazy Woman Art

Fine Art American Logo will not appear on your finished product.



PURCHASE OPTIONS:
Prints of this art are available on canvas, metal, acrylic and gallery prints, framed or unframed, greeting cards and iPhone or Galaxy phone covers . FAA has a large selection of frames, mats and surfaces available for you to create museum quality masterpieces of your original print selections.

IF YOU LIKE MY ART, I would be appreciative it if you would take a moment to favorite, like, tweet, pin to pinterest, google, stumbleupon and facebook .
This enables my art and photography to be found on FAA and other internet searches.
I hope you enjoyed this visual journey! Please return often as I upload fresh work quite often! I am grateful for your time!

Uploaded

December 1st, 2016