sandhill190614aCS
The Sandhill Crane is widely dispersed across the US and Canada with several localized breeding populations. Some are year round residents, while others migrate to northern breeding grounds. This individual is part one of the most northern breeding populations, photographed a over a hundred miles north of the arctic circle. This was not a species I expected to see in Alaska, and was immediately struck by the strong rusty tones in its plumage. I did a little research and found out that their coloration is in part due to iron stain from a diet that is largely among peat bogs and muskegs.
The midnight sun provides even more warmth to this summer tundra scene.
Alaska 2019
sandhill190614aCS
The Sandhill Crane is widely dispersed across the US and Canada with several localized breeding populations. Some are year round residents, while others migrate to northern breeding grounds. This individual is part one of the most northern breeding populations, photographed a over a hundred miles north of the arctic circle. This was not a species I expected to see in Alaska, and was immediately struck by the strong rusty tones in its plumage. I did a little research and found out that their coloration is in part due to iron stain from a diet that is largely among peat bogs and muskegs.
The midnight sun provides even more warmth to this summer tundra scene.
Alaska 2019