Nature Walk: Sandhill Crane

Bird songs often indicate the presence of birds before we see them. They can also bring back vivid memories of past observations. Few experiences are so wonderful as hearing the trumpeting sound of sandhill cranes in flight. They are the oldest living bird species with a lineage in the fossil record dating back some ten million years. Greater Sandhill Cranes are 4 to 5 feet in height and weigh from 10-14 pounds. Watch for them on the edges of wetlands and in open fields. They are omnivores feeding on both green plants and seeds, vertebrates such as mice or frogs, and invertebrates such as insects, grubs and worms.