Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/04/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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