and the storm approaching

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis formerly Grus canadensis, Gruidae) at Uihlein Waterfowl Production Area, Winnebago County, Wisconsin.

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Sandhill Cranes are similar in plumage across their range, but they vary in size. “Lesser” Sandhill Cranes breed in the Arctic and are the smallest; the largest form (“Greater” Sandhill Crane) breeds in the northern U.S. The nonmigratory “Florida” Sandhill Crane and a form that breeds in central Canada are intermediate in size.

Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Unit 1, Brawley, CA

There were at least 100 Sandhill Cranes at the Wildlife Refuge that day. It was a magnificent sight to see these elegant beauties gliding through the air.

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis formerly Grus canadensis - Gruidae)

Uihlein Waterfowl Production Area

Leopold Wetland Management District

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Waukau, Winnebago County, Wisconsin

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A wild Whooping Crane dancing - the colors on the top of the legs are transmitters that track their migration paths! Like how they chose colors to match its head! You can even see the antenna.

A few of my own textures were added!

Happy Sliders Sunday!

Port of Rotterdam

Florida Sandhill Crane. Florida sandhill cranes inhabit freshwater marshes, prairies, and pastures (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001). They occur throughout peninsular Florida north to the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia; however, they are less common at the northernmost and southernmost portions of this range. Florida’s Kissimmee and Desoto prairie regions are home to the state’s most abundant populations (Meine and Archibald 1996). MyFWC

A sandhill crane passes by at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge.

Sand Crane migrate to British Columbia from Siberia every summer nesting near Pitt Addington marsh.

Sand Crane calls are bazaar sounding I recommend searching online to find out just how unique these birds are.

Composite two images in Affinity Photo.

Florida sandhill cranes are a non-migratory species that nests in freshwater ponds and marshes. This species is monogamous (breeds with one mate). Courtship consists of dancing, which features jumping, running, and wing flapping (International Crane Foundation, n.d.). Sandhill crane nests are built by both mates with grass, moss, and sticks. Females lay two eggs that incubate for 32 days. Both male and female participate in incubating the eggs (Nesbitt 1996). The offspring will begin traveling from the nest with their parents just 24-hours after hatching. At ten months old, juveniles are able to leave their parents (Nesbitt 1996). Bonding between pairs begins at two years old.

Sandhill Cranes on a cloudy, early winter day in the Pacific Northwest.

Wander along the sandy beach and cross the dune down to the road that leads around the inlet to the terminal at La Digue du Braek, where cranes tower in the mist above the docks far below, and freighters lay silently belching dark exhaust as they prepare to depart for points unknown.

Warm rays of light from the rising sun hit the backsides of Sandhill cranes flying in formation with the third-quarter moon shining above. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, San Luis Valley Colorado

It was fun to try to capture some silhouettes of the cranes as they came in to roost around sunset with the sky ever-changing its hues.

Bosque del Apache, N.M. 12/13/2019.

Warped reflection of a crane somewhere in Brisbane city, from when I was there back in June.

We have been making numerous trips to Woodbridge Ecological Reserve (AKA Isenberg Crane Reserve) trying to capture a decent image of this skittish crane. This particular day proved to be a great photo day. The sun was in a perfect position and the birds were out and milling about. The birds were still quite a distance away but all the other elements were in place for us get a decent shot.

Found the coyote stalking the crane and then he seen me and ran away. Maybe it was the cranes lucky day that I came along. Athabasca county Alberta.

Art - Layers

Cranes in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge this morning. 7AM

The sandhill crane is a species of large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird refers to habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills on the American Great Plains. Wikipedia

Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal.

Cranes flying through an Oregon sky.

This Sandhill Crane was flying over Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

I have so many pics of sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis formerly Grus canadensis - Gruidae), but I get excited every time I see them.

This young one I found at Uihlein Waterfowl Production Area just south of Waukau, Winnebago County, Wisconsin.

Leopold Wetland Management District

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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These Sandhill Cranes are coming into a field nearby so we see more wing positions. Normally they fly 300-400 miles per day and follow the wind currents at an altitude of 3-5000 ft above ground. Using the tailwinds there is not as much need to constantly flap but do so when coming down or climbing up – they are like other fowl using the wings to control the flight.

Sandhill Cranes and the Red-winged Blackbird at Camas Centennial Marsh, Idaho

Wild Cranes released from the WWT Wetland Centre as part of their reintroduction programme have set up home in the Somerset Levels. Family groups remain together for autumn and winter. This was one such member of a flock I observed feeding on open grassland near the water's edge.

Rockport Coast-1912

Palermo, Sicily

While photographing the lone Snow Bunting, we heard and saw a small group of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead, followed by another group, and soon there were dozens of Cranes landing in a nearby field. We quickly made our way over to where the action was, and by the time we got there, about 80 or more Cranes were enjoying the open water in a farmer's field.

Photographed at Zoo Boise, this crane was cleaning himself and paused only momentarily enabling me to capture this pose.

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All rights reserved © Louis Ruth Photography

Second in my big birds of North America series is this Sandhill Crane photographed in a field near the highway south of Pinedale, Wyoming.

Sandhill Cranes are nearly 4 ft. tall, weigh up to 10 LBS and have a wingspan of over 6 ft.

Seeing the Sandhill Cranes at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico was high on my bucket list. So, I marked it off in November 2017.

Crane reflected in windows

Europe, The Netherlands, Zuid Holland, Rotterdam, Afrikaanderwijk, De Kuil, Crane, Engineers (cut from B &T)

A 'Terex' tower crane at 'De Kuil' building project in the Afrikaanderwijk. The crane had been used on a different spot of the building site, partially disassembled, transporeted and reassembled again. The engineers are busy with the last phase of the re-attachment of a part of the boom of the crane.

This is number 290 of People at work.

The sandhill crane is a species of large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird refers to their habitat such as the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills on the American Great Plains. Sandhill cranes are known to frequent the edges of bodies of water. Wikipedia

enlarge for a better view.

Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, use without permission is illegal.

Sony ILCE-7RM5

Cranes in the sunset. I might have hundreds (if not thousands) of pictures like these. Since these pictures, to me, do not provoke the same reaction as the experience while taking them, I probably did not succeed in doing these moments justice. ButI figured I might as well post them anyway, since I like them as a memory.