Sandhill Cranes are impressive birds, weighing up to about 11 pounds, standing 4′ tall with a wing span of almost 6 1/2′. And their very loud and penetrating bugling call is something every nature lover should experience.
These birds are perennially monogamous with pair bonds formed in the spring when they perform elaborate courtship dances. These dances, usually performed just after sunrise, are the primary mechanism in pair bond formation.
I found this pair of cranes in late April along the Antelope Island causeway. It was early morning and the birds were sidelit so I didn’t get light in the eyes in some of these shots but I found the behavior (and the sounds) to be fascinating and I think the image quality is sufficient for documentary purposes. All images presented here are in the order they were taken.
Techs for all of these images: f/9, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shutter speed ranged from 1/400 to 1/800.
Here the larger male in the back is approaching the female and calling loudly. That distinctive sound absolutely boomed across the shallow water.
Then he begins to dance as he calls.
He seemed to try to move in front of her as she walked to the left, in order to get her attention.
He repeatedly jumped up into the air with his wings spread. Here he’s about a foot off the water surface though it’s difficult to tell because you can’t see his feet.
Sometimes the female joins in the dancing but in this case she seemed more intent on walking to shore, perhaps to feed.
So the male danced again…
while he continued to bugle in her direction.
When they reached the shore the male spread his wings…
And then almost seemed to bow to the female in a respectful and genuflective manner (anthropomorphism be damned…).
This was an event I won’t soon forget. The isolation we had with the birds, the warm early morning light, the smells of the lake, the fascinating behavior and the booming calls of the birds all combined to form an indelible impression on my senses.
Ron
Ron,
I had a sandhill living with me for over five years. He was an imprint so every morning we danced with each other, tossed sticks and vocalized. That sound always brings a smile to my face.
I love watching them “dance.” What gorgeous light you captured!
I love the shots with the reflection in the water. Once in a while we get some down Teasdale way, they are magnificent. Thanks again for a wonderful story.
I’m glad you like the reflection shots, Tana. They show less detail but I think the reflections add a nice touch.
FABULOUS PHOTOS, RON!!!!!!!
Thanks very much, Nicole.
Oh. That would be such a privilege to see and hear. Thank you so much for sharing some of the beauty of the morning with us. I do hope that his efforts were finally rewarded.
Anthromorphism be damned characterises my bird watching. The emotion of the bird, and sometimes a little about their character, (bully-boy corellas leap to mind) is often, to me at least, self evident.
I can see that when I am forced to step away from the blogosphere in a fortnight or so, I will be making flying visits to see what I have missed.
I’ll be thinking about you and yours while you’re gone, Elephants Child. And wishing for you my very best!
Poetry in motion captured by the Master!
Thanks for two things, Charlotte. One of them sincere and the other one, not so much. I appreciate your very flattering comment. But the “Poetry in Motion” thing will haunt me for the rest of the evening, I’m sure. I’m notorious for getting a song stuck in my head until it drives me batty. Well, you’ve done it – I’m hearing “Poetry in Motion” by Johnny Tillotson as I type and probably will for hours. 🙂 Good thing I like the song (and yes, I know that it dates me…)
How beautiful, Ron. I love that the male took a bow after his most wonderful dance.
Last week, we were at San Joaquin River Reserve in the Central Valley of California. We could hear the Sandhill Cranes–there had to have been hundreds of them by the sound of it, but access to the area where they were congregating was closed to the public so we never saw them. We caught sight of a couple of them flying overhead but that was it.
I guess the managers of the Reserve wanted to afford them some privacy while they were here and I certainly couldn’t begrudge them that. I pined a bit for a look at them and your images here fill the bill! Thank you so much.
Sharon, I know that “pining” feeling so well when looking for these birds. So often I hear them in the distance but the tall stands of Phragmites keep me from seeing them. They’re so loud that I often think they’re closer than they are.
These are stunning, you got so many poses and gestures. I don’t know if you know Martin Bailey, but he has a very popular podcast on iTunes, and he has photographed this same courtship dance with the Red-crowned Cranes in his trips to Hokkaido in Japan. It would be great to see them all framed together, they are gorgeous!!
Thank you, Maria. I am unfamiliar with Bailey but I suspect I’ve seen some of his work. I’ll google him and see what I can turn up.
Sandhill cranes are such amazing birds. These pictures and your description of the morning bring great hope that spring will soon be here again. What a nice way to spend your mornings. (And,…..they will soon be longer and brighter.)
Teri, This cold weather, my photos and your comment have me thinking of warmer and longer days right now…
Spectacular images!!
Thanks, Chuck.
Your description and photos have provided an indelible impression I won’t soon forget, either. I live near the Nature Conservancy’s Matheson Refuge in Moab. The sound of the sandhills when they overhead is unmistakable. I’ve never seen the courtship dance in person, but these photos provide an amazing vicarious experience.
Thank you, Janet. I hope the Matheson Refuge has largely recovered from that fire a few years ago.
Breathtaking, Ron! I just spent some time photographing them in Florida, really for the first time, and I fell in love with their beauty. I can only hope to get the chance to view this mating dance someday, which you have captured so beautifully. I sure love that side lighting, brings out so much detail.
Thanks very much, Melissa. I find the sideighting to be both a blessing and a curse, for reasons I’m sure you fully understand.
Beautiful light! I’m trying to figure out if those are greater sandhills (we get lessers in Alaska). You can tell by the bill length, but I don’t have my guide with me.
I’m thinking they’re greater sandhills, Nancy – based on their size and the proportionately longer bill of the greater.
Thank you Ron for sharing your amazing photography and observations ! It is truly appreciated.
Thank you for saying so, John.
All I can say is that female sure knows how to hurt a guy. He is practically wearing himself, trying go get her attention, while she just remains aloof, and ignores him most of the time. 🙂
I had some of the same thoughts, Bob. Although I do have a couple of shots where she seemed to half-heartedly join in the dancing, but then she quickly gave it up.
Absolutely beautiful!! And she seems fairly oblivious to him – accepting such behavior as due her? Now I want to find and hear their call. Thanks for sharing!!
I hope you get to hear it, Leisa. The sound is very distinctive and carries a very long ways over a quiet wetland or field. I usually hear them long before I see them.