Sandhill Cranes–Magical Migration!

Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) are large, loud, and one of our most majestic birds. With a wingspan of almost seven feet, seeing flocks of thousands heading north each spring is a sight to behold! Come along as we visit Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in south-central Colorado to watch the birds flock, feed, and dance, all in preparation for their long journey north.

As the sky gets a hint of sunrise color, the cranes in the ponds and marshes begin waking and start calling to one another. As the landscape brightens, the chorus can be hundreds if not thousands of cranes. Small groups of cranes begin taking off, heading to area farmland to feed on last harvest’s remaining grain, invertibrates, and small mammals. Cranes need to gain about one pound of fat to help fuel their long flight north. The fact they are omnivores, eating both plants and animals, allows them to adapt to changing seasons and environmental situations at stopovers along their journey.

Three of the six subspecies of Sandhill Cranes migrate. All three, the Greater, Lesser, and Canadian, can be seen at the Refuge, but the vast majority are Greater Sandhill Cranes. The Greater is larger and lighter gray than the other two. We will see if we can ID the smaller cranes.

Migrating cranes spend their winters in warmer climates, but as the map tells, most breed in Canada. Living in the greater Yellowstone area, we saw them regularly and, if lucky, with their young. Sorry friend, I was never that lucky. Perhaps one day . . . But they did fly over my home often. Their loud call had me running to the windows!

According to Refuge information, the cranes are fairly habitual and predictable. They are diurnal, only active during the day, roosting in the evening and overnight in shallow open water. They feed on area farmland from sunrise to mid-morning then again in late afternoon until sunset. Mid-day hours, from 10am-4pm, are called loafing hours. They “loaf” in wet meadows and near creeks, but don’t always use areas with water. During this time they may feed on roots, tubers, and use their long, sharp bills to spear various foods such as frogs, rodents, and nestling birds. However, their catch must fit into their mouth to be swallowed in a single gulp.

Adult Sandhill Cranes stand up to 5 feet tall with up to a 7 foot wingspan, flying with their necks and legs straight, often calling as they fly. Their bugling call can carry up to 2.5 miles, no joke! The males and females look the same. Their lovely bright gold eye with a red cap which is skin, not feathers. Their tail is actually quite small. The “bustle” you see are their wing feathers covering the tail. They may have an occasional tan feather, but if they summer in areas with iron-rich mud, their muddy preening will turn most of their feathers reddish. They will molt the stained feathers in the fall and return to gray.

Cranes live between 20 and 35 years and mate for life. Sandhills will not choose a mate and breed until between 3 and 7 years old. Spring mating begins with dancing, what all birders hope to see. Spreading their wings, pumping their heads, bowing, and jumping gracefully into the air, accompanied by one of a dozen different vocalizations from purrs to trills to rattles. Both males and females dance as a courting ritual to find a mate or renew their life bond.

Outside of mating season, all ages dance. No one is quite sure why, but offer the possibilities of aiding motor development of young, easing aggression in groups, maintaining strength and flexibility at stopovers, as a defense against predators, and/or teaching the younger birds the dance skills. Juvenile Sandhills stay with their parents for 10 months in order to learn skills, not least of which is when and where to migrate which is not instinctive. Family units can stay together much longer though and migrate with other family units and nonbreeders forming massive flocks.

Could those middle slightly small birds be Lesser or Canadian? The sun is so bright it is hard to tell. Perhaps they are young Greater cranes? It is a guess either way.

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge hosts between 23,000 and 27,000 cranes biannually. Mid-morning our last day a strange black cloud appeared in the sky. It seemed stationary from our angle, but in reality it was a massive flock of cranes. As I raced my SUV down a dirt road (don’t tell 😉 ) to avoid poles and wires in my pictures, more than half the flock already landed. Still, what a magnificent display!

As the sun reaches the western mountains, the end of the day means roosting in numbers which sets the stage for a safe night’s rest.

Sandhill migration is spectacular! Not sure we saw the smaller, darker species, but we will try again this autumn. Glad you came along!

Hooray, it is almost spring, so watch for the returning songsters in your neck of the woods. Until next time . . .