Tag Archives: Sandhill Cranes

One of my birding stops today gave nice views of 15 Sandhill Cranes present along the Bark River in Delafield Waukesha County. Two Sandhill Crane colts were in the flock. With the cold temperatures like today at 19 degrees they don’t do much other than get a few things to eat on occasion in the river, some preening and just standing around conserving energy. A Great Blue Heron was also present. The heron did not move at all when I was there, thinking it was just taking it easy like the cranes. The Sandhill Cranes hangout at this location into winter as the river does not freeze till later if it does at all. Today was sunny skies, a little wind and temps around 19 degrees. Images were taken on December 7, 2025.

Sandhill Cranes, and adult left, colt right…

A colt finding something to eat maybe…

Sandhill Cranes…

Colt with something in the bill…

Looking for something to eat I would assume…

4 of the 15 Sandhill Cranes present, adults…

Colt…

Missed something here…

Just got a drink…

Birding in Waukesha County I came across a pair of Sandhill Cranes. They were finding things to eat and along with that I noticed they have started painting themselves. That took place at another location like a ditch or something where they get that orange brown soil to paint on their feathers. Painting their feathers is something they do so when they nest they will blend in with their surroundings. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine, lows winds and temps around 48 degrees. Images were taken on March 12, 2025.

One of the Sandhill Cranes…some painting on the feathers there…

Sandhill Cranes with more painting done on their feathers…

More looks at the painting…

Preening…not sure how long these two have been back…

I was out doing some chores this afternoon on the driveway when I heard the sweet sounds of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. There were 5 groups up very high. The cranes fly into the wind to gain speed, they soar in thermals, or updrafts of warm air, to reach their desired altitude. They often glide like kites instead of flapping their wings. The sounds are amazing and with my camera in my car next to me I just took a couple of shots as they headed north. It was a beautiful day with temps around 60 degrees, mostly sunny with some good winds at times. Images were taken on March 9, 2025.

As the Sandhill Cranes head north up so very high…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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??