[Leica] Sand Hill Cranes or I am not Doug Herr

[telyt at earthlink.net (Doug Herr)]

on 4/17/04 6:11 PM, Don Dory at dorysrus@mindspring.com wrote:

> About 50 miles west of York is the start of the temporary resting place
> for about half a million Sand Hill Cranes.  Starting about February 14
> to about the end of April Sand Hill Cranes inhabit a stretch of ground
> 80 miles long and about six miles wide centered on the Platte River from
> Grand Island west to North Platte.
> 
> Family units consisting of the parents and typically one grown chick
> stop for about three weeks to gain enough body mass (about 20%) to
> continue the migration north into NW Canada reaching into Siberia.
> Winter grounds are in W Texas in the greater big bend area.
> 
>> From shortly after sunrise until just before sunset corn fields hold
> large groupings of these birds as they gorge on seeds, eggs, insects,
> lizards, and small snakes.  From evening until dawn they rest amongst
> the sand bars of the Platte: the Platte is a braided river so there are
> many shallow streams flowing around numerous sand bars providing safety
> from most predators.
> 
> Unfortunately for me, these birds are quite wary and have excellent
> vision.  Even sitting still on an embankment abutting fields the birds
> would gradually "graze" away from me.  Even on the river, unless you are
> in a blind they will move away from you.
> 
> So, if I go back, I will arrange with a local land owner to allow me to
> set up a blind in a field and while away my hours hoping that they will
> pick my field to forage.  Likewise, the Audubon society has a very nice
> facility on the river (Rowe Audubon Center) that maintains a good blind
> on the river.  Small or preferably large donations are appreciated.
> 
> Suggestions for anyone else going would include taking lenses up to
> 800mm and or binoculars of at least 10 power.  Stop by the Audubon
> center for orientation and helpful tips.  And do talk to the local
> residents; they are as interesting to talk to as watching the cranes.
> 
> The picture linked below is a descriptive image of very typical behavior
> in an open field, but isn't a very good image.
> 
> http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2294069&size=lg
> 
> Comments always welcome.
> 
> Don
> dorysrus@mindspring.com
> 

Don, my own Sandhill Crane photos also suggset that I am not Doug Herr!  I'd
suggest a crop to panorama format for this photo.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com