Sandhill Cranes at the Bark River in Delafield in Waukesha County on January 11, 2024

While birding out in Waukesha County I came across 16 Sandhill Cranes on the Bark River in Delafield. They were just hanging out doing some preening and not very active. They are probably saving their energy for the days ahead with snow and cold in the forecast. It was a cloudy day, mild temps around 34 degrees, with low winds. Images were taken on January 11, 2024.

Sandhill Crane…

Sandhill Cranes, pair…

All of them, 16 Sandhill Cranes…

A pair…

Some preening…

Some more preening…

Sandhill Cranes…

Preening…

A group, some preening…

Just beautiful…

Sandhill Cranes painting themselves at Delafield in Waukesha County Wisconsin on March 5, 2023

I saw another amazing birding event today in Delafield in Waukesha County. Sandhill Cranes painting themselves by preening mud on and into their feathers. They are known to do this to change their colors to blend in more with their surroundings at nesting time. It is said that iron oxide in the mud is a form of dye, they also said they turn gray again after they molt before migrating in the fall, makes perfect sense. Totally amazing to watch so I had to share some of this excitement with others. After painting, they walked to a nearby puddle and found a couple of things to eat. It was a nice sunny day with no wind and mild temps around 35. Images were taken on March 5, 2023.

The Sandhill Cranes paintbrush…

The artists…

As I watched from a safe distance both Sandhill Cranes painted away…

Once in awhile they would dip their brushes into the little standing water/mud next to them for more mud for painting…

Getting the job done…

Talk about a natural piece of art…

More painting…

And more painting…

Trying to do the complete job…

They finished…and walked to a nearby puddle…

Poking in the mud, they find things to eat…

Something in the bill…

 

 

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 28, 2023

I did a little birding in Waukesha County this morning and saw 5 Sandhill Cranes. Locations of the Sandhill Cranes were Brookfield and South Kettle Moraine. Two were in a marsh far off the road and 3 were closer at two other locations and I took a couple of photos. The birds seemed to be finding things to eat at all locations. A nice sunny morning out with no wind and temps around 32 degrees. Images were taken on February 28, 2023.

On the prairie in the South Kettle Moraine…

In a snowy area but still finding things to eat…

Bill just out of the mud...

Bill just out of the mud…

The Sandhill Crane calling…

Finding things to eat…

Bill just out of the mud finding things to eat…

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County Wisconsin on March 5, 2022

Birding about Waukesha County I came across a couple of Sandhill Cranes off the highway. They must have come in the last day or two. They moved around and seemed to find some food in a few spots where maybe frost was not in the ground. It was nice seeing them and they will probably be looking for a nesting place soon. It was a gloomy day but temps were mild in the 40’s. Images were taken on March 5, 2022.

The pair of Sandhill Cranes…

Preening…

Finding things to eat…

Some dirt on the bill from getting things to eat in the ground…

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County on February 7, 2021

One of my birding stops today provided nice looks at 4 Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County. These 4 never migrated and have hung around all winter in the area. The weather today, -8 degrees when I was there and for the next week is very cold for them.  I hope they will hang in there and then temps will start to moderate soon. They are in a location with open water and hopefully they will get things to eat there. Sunny with a light breeze today. Images were taken on February 7, 2021.

Sandhill Cranes, the 4 of them…

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County Wisconsin on November 14, 2020

Birding out in Waukesha County this morning I came across a family of 4 Sandhill Cranes. There were 2 adults and 2 juveniles. They were feeding in a field finding things to eat and actually came across a small spot where some corn was spilled. They hung around the corn for a few minutes and then left the area. It was a nice morning out, some sun to start but later clouded over, temps were cold about 31 degrees. Images were taken on November 14, 2020.

Sandhill Crane, adult looking for things to eat…

Sandhill Crane, juvenile just walking the field…

Sandhill Crane adult with juvenile (left) eating together, some of the spilled corn…

Sandhill Crane adult with juvenile (right) eating together…

Sandhill Crane, juvenile scratching…

Sandhill Crane, juvenile…

Sandhill Crane, adult just looking around…

Sandhill Crane, juvenile with corn in the bill…

Sandhill Crane, adult grabbing corn off the ground…

Sandhill Crane, adult

Sandhill Crane on the Nest with Eggs in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on June 7, 2020

One of my birding stops today in Milwaukee County was checking out a reported Sandhill Crane on a nest. From a distance I watched a Sandhill Crane on the nest and on a few occasions the bird stood up and rolled the eggs over. I have never seen this before, it was very exciting to watch. Two birds have been rotating sitting on the eggs, I only saw one today. Rolling over the eggs was one thing but then the bird has to get comfortable in sitting back on the eggs after rolling. It took a couple of times to get comfy after the rolling over was done. Cranes roll the egg over as it serves to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the egg membrane from sticking to the shell. I heard this is the second try for this couple to try for young as the first attempt the eggs were washed away from flooding. It was a beautiful June day with cool temps to start the day, some sun came mid-morning. Images were taken on June 7, 2020.

The eggs…

Sitting back on the nest and eggs…

Sandhill Crane sitting on the nest…

Rolling over the eggs…

Standing tall, on the nest, like taking a break I would say…

A little preening…

More rolling of the eggs….

Sitting back on the nest and eggs…

The eggs…the second one is a little hard to see…

Just another shot, sitting on the nest with eggs…

Sandhill Cranes with Colts in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 24, 2020

Driving through the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County I came across a pair of Sandhill Cranes with their colts. The adults probed for food while the young colts observed then giving the food to the colts. On some occasions the colts probed and got their own food. I was a pleasant day, hot in the sun with some humidity. Images were taken on May 24, 2020.

Adult Sandhill Crane just passed a grub worm to the colt…

Colt practicing the wing stretch…

The Sandhill Colt…

Adult probing for a grub with the colt watching and waiting for the adult to let it know when food is ready….

Colt closeup, mud on the bill from probing…

Adult bugling call…

Colt is typically always near an adult, here waiting for the next food, the adult will call it over…

Here the colt is probing on it’s own maybe getting food…

Close-up, mud on the bill from probing…

Colt getting something to eat from the adult…

Colt just being a colt…

Stretching that leg, it is growing so fast…

Another wing stretch…

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 27, 2020

While birding out in Waukesha County I came across some Sandhill Cranes on the Bark River. They were just hanging out doing some preening and catching food too. Temperature was 9 degrees so it makes sense this is a place they could spend some time in a flowing river. A couple of the cranes worked a river bank probing in the mud finding things to eat. A couple of times I also watched them probe and grab things to eat right out of the middle of the flowing river. Interesting to see their heads go completely under water just like a heron species. There were 4 cranes present and then a 5th one arrived. Seconds before the 5th one arrived, 2 of the cranes started their bugling call and it was looking like the 5th one was not really welcome with the group. I would guess that it was a territorial thing. The 5th one stayed off doing its own thing. A very cold morning to start at about 8 degrees a good wind, made it feel like the 1st of January. Images were taken on February 27, 2020.

Sandhill Cranes

Shaking off…

Shaking off…

Head under water, getting something to eat…

Comes up with something to eat in the middle of the river…

Sandhill Crane closeup…

Sandhill Cranes giving a loud, rattling bugle call…

Posing…

Sandhill Crane walking along the muddy river bank finding things to eat…

Probing in the mud for things to eat…

Preening…

Just up from being under the water…

A different kind of walk I saw more than once…

Swallowing water from a drink…

Going into the water…

Head under, getting something to eat…

Getting up on the ice…

I seriously think they are looking at the marsh area thinking, to early for building a nest huh??

Sandhill Cranes Feeding a Colt in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 12, 2019

I birded some of western Waukesha County this morning for something different. The highlight of the morning was 2 adult Sandhill Cranes feeding a cute colt. This was a young colt and it stayed close to both adults. They both probed the ground and gave the colt things to eat, sometimes passing something or dropping it in front of the colt to eat it on its own. Pretty exciting to watch this from a distance. It rained briefly while I was there but cranes just went about their business feeding and feeding the colt. Images were taken on June 12, 2019.

Sandhill Crane adult with the colt…

The Sandhill Crane colt…with rain falling…

Passing a grub to the colt…with a drizzle…

Colt eating the grub…

The colt pulling the worm out of the ground, the adult partially pulled it out…

Colt with the worm, the adult watches…

Dealing with the worm…

I’m going to get this down…the adult just watches

Almost down…

An adult briefly looks around…it is still drizzling…

The adult drops a grub in front of the colt and the colt picks it up…

The colt then eats the grub…

The adult pulls a grub out of the ground…

The pass…

The adult walks around in search of food, the colt just watches, it is an on going lesson how to get things to eat…

Another grub is passed on to the colt…

Time to get it down…

Another pass…

And another grub…

Watching the adult, could be the female…

Whooping Crane juveniles in training at Operation Migration at the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area in Wisconsin on August 31, 2017

The Whooping Crane juveniles, 7 of them, have been in training at the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area for the last couple of months. Viewing is now open to public. A birding friend of mine, Karen Schoenike reserved the blind and I was able join her for the big event today watching some of the training. We arrived very early in the morning meeting Doug Pellerin who took us out the blind after meeting Brooke Pennypacker and Colleen Chase at the gate. Colleen who has worked with these birds since hatching joined us in the blind after she released the birds from the pen.  The event started with the release of the birds, mingling by the pen, then they took to flight and landed numerous times. This was an amazing and fun event to witness in person, to watch these birds in action feeding, flying and hanging as a group like family. Doug and Colleen were great hosts. The eggs of these birds came from Necedah in April 2017, were flown out to Maryland, incubated, hatched ~June 24th, 2017 and flown back here for Operation Migration. Correct me if I am incorrect on any of this information. The morning started out with low cloud cover with temps at 50 degrees, breezes picked up after awhile, sun peek out once or twice. Photographing these birds are difficult from the blind as prairie grasses are reaching at least 6 feet tall now plus the birds are pretty distant. No adults were seen today. With that said, it was still a great experience today at Operation Migration! I hope the Whoopers have a successful flight to the south when it is their turn to migrate. Contact Doug Pellerin if you want any information on the blind use. Images were taken on August 31, 2017.

Opening of the pen for the young Whooping Cranes begin…

Puppet in hand with the Whooping Crane hood on…

The excitement builds and the birds come running out after the gate is opened…

They are anxious to be out for feeding and it is time to fly!

They start feeding in the field at first not to far from the pen…

They are moving out…

They take to the sky!

Up, up, and away, Colleen leaves the area, they will be on their own for hours now…

They are flying off in a distant but remain in the area…

They are up and away…

Circling around in a very big area…

More of the same…

They are heading towards us…

Not time to land yet, they are just passing by for another circle…

Coming in for a landing at the pen landing strip…

Doing some feeding after the first flight and hanging out…

They are headed to behind the pen to a pond and were out of view for awhile…

Time to takeoff again…

Up, up, and away…

View looking at the pen from standing in the blind…

Sandhill Cranes in the snow in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 25, 2017

While birding in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County the highlight was a pair of Sandhill Cranes in the snow. They looked cold as temperatures were around 20 degrees. I noticed too a good part of the time I observed them they stood on 1 leg. Maybe they don’t particularly care for standing in the snow. Some preening was done but very little. Before I left the area one stuck it’s head under the wing and rested, but left an eye open. A cloudy day with a few flurries on and off with a steady breeze from the northwest bringing in that cold air. Images were taken on February 25, 2017.

The pair...

The pair…the painted ones…

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One resting with the eye open...

One resting with the eye open…

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A few snowflakes…

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Cleaning the snow out of the toes..

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

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Sandhill Cranes painting themselves in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 22, 2017

I saw a first today in the Southern Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County. Sandhill Cranes painting themselves by preening mud into their feathers. They are known to do this to change their colors to blend in more with their surroundings. It was said by a friend of mine that iron oxide in the mud is a form of dye, they also said they turn gray again after they molt before migrating in the fall, makes perfect sense. Totally amazing to watch so I had to share some of this excitement with others. Images were taken on February 22, 2017.

The pair, preening and painting themselves with mud to change their colors

The pair, preening and painting themselves with mud to change their colors

Getting the mud...

Getting the mud……look at the paint

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Getting the mud

Getting the mud

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening….when doing their backs and even in other places, their large bill is rolling back and forth, in and out…at a pretty good speed

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening away…

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Painting and preening

Getting more mud...

Getting more mud…

The pair

The pair

Look at the paint!

Look at the paint!

Painting and preening away...

Painting and preening away…

In the beginning

Look at that paint job!

Sandhill Cranes in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County on February 19, 2017

I made a quick run out to the South Kettle Moraine this morning and the highlight was a Sandhill Crane off the road. I saw another Sandhill Crane out in a field nearby, there are a few coming in with the warm weather. Another bird to note was a Snow Goose flying high up in a V shape formation of Canada Geese flock heading north. Unseasonably mild temps around 60 degrees with mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on February 19, 2017.

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Sandhill Crane

Binomial name: Grus canadensid

Category: Cranes

Size: 46” long, 77” wing span

Weight: 10.6 lb

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Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County Wisconsin on January 19, 2017

On my way home from doing some birding in Milwaukee County it was a big surprise to see 2 Sandhill Cranes. They were foraging on a hilltop far off the roadway in old hay field on the south end of Waukesha, I stopped for a couple of distant shots. There were a pair of them. Considered rare birds for this time of year at this location. It was a day of fog, never did see the sun, on a few occasions it got brighter. The mild temps of near 40 felt great as we are only in January. The mild temps Images were taken on January 19, 2017.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane, one of the pair

Sandhill Crane

Binomial name: Grus canadensid

Category: Cranes

Size: 46” long, 77” wing span

Weight: 10.6 lb

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane

 

Sandhill Cranes in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County on September 23, 2015

Doing some birding out in the South Kettle Moraine today I came across a pair of adult Sandhill Cranes.  I enjoyed the show of two adults as they walked around, feed, went for water and preened. Turning more gray, they are going into their winter plumage. Soon they will congregate in large numbers at staging areas and then migrate to wintering areas in the southern US and Mexico. Other species to note from today, flocks of Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings and Killdeer. For the most part a quiet day birding with warm temps, sunny and next to no wind.  Images were taken on September 23, 2015.

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Drinking

Drinking

Drinking

Drinking

Drinking

Drinking

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Getting out those old feathers!

Getting out those old feathers!

Preening

Preening

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Sandhill Cranes with colt feeding in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County on August 26, 2015

Doing some birding out in the South Kettle Moraine today I came across this family of Sandhill Cranes. I enjoyed the show of two adults and one colt that is almost adult size now. Soon they will congregate in large numbers at staging areas and then migrate to wintering areas in the southern US and Mexico. Images were taken on August 26, 2015.

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Sandhill Crane colt left, Sandhill Crane adult right

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Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane with colts, South Kettle Moraine Waukesha County WI. Photographs taken on May 19, 2011

Sandhill Cranes with Colts, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane

Binomial name: Grus canadensis

Category: Cranes

Size: 46” long, 77” wing span

Weight: 10.6 lb.

Habitat: Sandhill Cranes typically breed, forage and nest in wetlands, grasslands, marshes, bogs and sometimes dry lands. Out of the breeding season they spend more time in deeper water of lakes and ponds where they are more safe from the many predators they have being a ground species.

Diet: Seeds, grains, snails, insects, worms, amphibians, reptiles, nestling birds, small mammals, and sometimes berries. With their long bills the dig for tubers.

Nesting: The nest is constructed of dead plant material such as cattails, burr reeds, sedges and grasses. Later on green plant material is added to the nest. The nest is cup shaped 30”-40” across and 4”-6” high lined with small sticks and twigs. Both adults gather the material, but the female arranges the materials in the construction of the nest to her liking. The male defends the nest during incubation. 1-3 eggs are laid in the nest, both parents incubate the eggs for 30 days, they hatch covered in down. The young leave the nest usually in less than a day. The adults feed the young for the first few weeks and then less and less as they become more independent taking 9 to 10 months.

Cool facts: The Sandhill Cranes is the most common crane in the world. Sandhill Cranes are known by their graceful dancing skills. Within 8 hours of hatching the young are capable of swimming. If a mate dies, a new mate is found and a nest is reused by the new pair.

Sandhill Cranes Colts, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane feeding colt, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane Colt, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane Colt, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane Colt, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane feeding colt, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane Colt stretching, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane Colt, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011

Sandhill Crane, Waukesha County WI. May 19, 2011