Sandhill Cranes are year-round residents in this part of Florida. A few weeks ago, a mating pair starting hanging around a pond near our house. Early one morning, I saw them dancing their beautiful mating dance and I hoped that they would soon build a nest.
Sure enough, last week a mound appeared on the littoral shelf in the pond. Thursday evening a pair of Mallard ducks stood on the mound surverying the area while the cranes fished. Then Friday evening I saw one of the cranes tending to eggs on the nest. Yeah!!!
My Sweetie and I walked down to the pond this evening to take some photos. Sandhill Cranes mate for life and take turns tending the nest during the day. The female solely sits the nest durning the night. I don't know if it was the male or female that was on duty when we visited. The crane was very attentive to every sound and I wondered if he/she was waiting for his/her mate to return.
Making some small adjustments to the nest.
Hopefully, when the chicks are hatched we'll be able to get this close for some more photos.
7 comments:
Wow such great pictures. They are beautiful birds.
Thanks for sharing the pictures! Can't wait to see what hatches.
Very cool!
I love that there are birds that mate for life. It gives me hope for humans!
Amazing. I hope you do capture some pics of the little ones. Gorgeous photos!
How wonderful that you are witnessing this beauty! Lovely, lovely photos. They are such good parents. And parents-in-waiting.
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