A Short Story - Sandhill Cranes
Once again I have had the incredible privilege of being able to wander private property in Ashfield to observe and photograph sandhill cranes. It is truly a moving experience to spend hour upon hour just watching these magnificent birds. This year we were not in WMass until the pair had arrived back to this same farm in Ashfield and had already built their nest. In this post I will try to convey with photos and commentary, the truly remarkable nesting period of these birds. The following photos are consecutive days from May 6 to May 14… .I was there and in position well before sunrise each day.
I dedicate this short story to the wonderful couple in Ashfield who allow me on their gorgeous property - no matter the time of day! :).
This post will take you time to read - so please sit back and relax… This is one of the very big blog projects that I have been working on for you. I hope you enjoy - it is now time to come along with me...
Once I park the car I walk down the road and then veer off the road onto a path in the woods. It is a beautiful walk in the woods but I must admit I try to be hyper-alert to any mammals that might be lurking! I often see deer and once I saw a coyote. Anyway, I make my way through the woods to the backside of the swamp where the cranes nest. I then get to “my” post - which is a tall tree on the edge of the swamp where I set up. I set up my tripod next to the tree as close as is possible. I then stand on one of the roots of the tree to give myself as much height as possible as the nest is in reeds in the swamp. Cranes will generally build their nest within 10 feet of the previous year’s nest - how remarkable is that? Last year I couldn’t believe that I had any view into the nest - because as I said - I am looking into a swamp with tall reeds. To my absolute delight this year - the nest was built slightly closer towards me and with a much clearer view of the nest! I thought - can this even be true?? Wow - incredible luck! I will not be surprised if it turns out to be the best view I ever have.
Adult sandhill cranes are about 4 1/2 feet tall with a wingspan of about 6 feet - they are massive birds! They generally mate for life and they both care for the eggs and the young - they are truly a bonded pair.
I stay for hours…. I get there before sunrise and don’t leave until late in the day, while standing the entire day - I deeply feel how special what I am witnessing is… I want to observe and learn as much as possible. I have learned a lot, with of course, lots more to learn.
During the vast majority of mornings I find that it is the female who has been on the nest overnight.
. The male flies in as the sun rises…
He then stays a short distance away and takes his time to observe everything that is happening in the swamp. He then strides over through the swamp towards the nest. While he is doing this the female unfolds her long legs and stands up at the nest.
She then turns her long neck to survey the area around her. The male then approaches and for a moment they are both on the nest as they switch positions. The female then strides away - not going too far away, and takes her time cleaning her massive amount of feathers. Often I find the female with dew and and or tiny ice crystals on her back while she is waiting for her mate to relieve her of her duties - truly breathtaking.
The photo below was taken at a different area of the swamp. I had been watching a pair of geese on the nest and knew the little ones on that nest would be hatching soon too! The day before no baby goslings - so this little one is less than 24 hours old.
The next morning I sensed some movement across the swamp in the back corner while I was set up watching the crane on the nest. I have willed some mammal to show up in that back corner - the lighting is just stunning and the reflections are just so damn gorgeous! Here is who showed up and put on the most beautiful show!
Wow!!
Now back to the cranes…
When the time is getting near that a pip (the first tiny hole in an egg) will appear - both parents get close to the nest to rejoice and make an announcement to the world - a baby is coming soon!
This is truly an overwhelming experience… it brings tears to my eyes. The male is the taller of the two - he throws his neck all of the way back to call. They call together and then they call and respond to each other - just magnificent! Once the pip occurs the baby is generally born within approx .24 hours. On this day I stayed as long as I could late into the day.
I arrived even earlier the next morning (May 13)- of course! I was so very excited that this could be the day for the first little one to appear. And this was what I saw as soon as the mother stood up…
Gives me chills re-living this moment with you, and quite honestly, with so many moments. So heartwarming…
And then a little later the male arrived….
And then this!
The second egg now has a pip!!! AND I hope you can see the tiny body part sticking out of the pip….Once again I stayed as long as I could - the second one was not born while I was there.
So once again back the next day (May 14)… to see the following… which all occurred in a very short period of time…
Once again I missed the birth - but we certainly know that we are looking at one that is less than 48 hrs old and the other can be no more 13 hours old as I was only gone for 13 hours!
Considering the egg shell is still on the nest the youngest one is very young! The adult crane who is not on the nest carries the empty shell away from the nest to try and trick predators….
This was my last day (May 14) as we went away on vacation (another post for another day!)… I was so fortunate to witness the lives of this crane family.
I wish I only had good news to share with you but that is sadly not the case. Sometime within the next two weeks one of the little ones did not make it. As heartbreaking as that is I want to end by sharing happy moments of the surviving young one. This is exactly one month later - we were back in WMass and I had this one day to head to Ashfield.
The morning light was just stunning and the parents had the little one out in the field - teaching it to find grubs and worms for breakfast.
“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to
fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the
grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll
through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?”
Mary Oliver, House of Light