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Sandhill Cranes



Yesterday I heard them! I stopped mid stride and looked up.  I wanted to find them, to see if I could see them.  I heard that trill that I always associated with them and there they were.  The Sandhill Cranes were flying over Chicago headed north.  To me, they announce the glorious end of winter and the beginning of my favorite season, spring.

In this picture from my phone, they do not look like much but I have recently learned that they can be 2.5 to 4 feet tall, weigh between 6 and 14 pounds, they are omnivores and have an impressive 5 to 6-foot wingspan.


One of the things that I have observed about them is that they seem to communicate with each other.  They stop mid-flight and circle around. They circle in a pattern and then for some reason form their beautiful V-shape formation and fly off again. I wonder what they are looking for?  Are they stopping to enjoy the view?  Are they recalculating an inner compass?  Are they doing a mandatory headcount?  I am not sure.  I know one thing however, for me they herald in the change of the seasons.  They seem to announce that spring is waking up again in the northern hemisphere and for me, it is worth stopping and taking note.  Thanks for flying over cranes.  Enjoy your trip.  See you again in the fall.

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