Sandhills Stopover by Ken _Gilliland

Vue • Animals • posted on Aug 25, 2009

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Description

Sandhill cranes take time to enjoy a wetlands area during migration. (Full Size View recommended) The Sandhill Crane has one of the longest fossil histories of any living bird. While a 10-million-year-old crane fossil from Nebraska is often cited as being of this species, it this is more likely from a prehistoric relative or the direct ancestor. The oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is "just" 2.5 million years old which is more than 1½ times older than the earliest remains of any other living species of birds. Sandhill Cranes are the most abundant of the world's cranes. Sandhill cranes are distributed throughout North America, extending into Cuba and far northeastern Siberia. The three migratory subspecies (Lesser, Greater and Canadian) are distributed across a broad breeding range in the northern U.S. and Canada as well as eastern Siberia, with wintering grounds in the southern United States and northern Mexico. The three non-migratory subspecies (Mississippi, Cuban, and Florida) have restricted ranges in the southern United States and Cuba. Found in open fresh water wetlands, but the different subspecies utilize habitats that range from bogs, sedge meadows, and fens to open grasslands, pine savannas, and cultivated lands. Sandhill Cranes occur at their highest breeding density in habitats that contain open sedge meadows in wetlands that are adjacent to short vegetation in uplands. Approximately 80% of all Sandhill Cranes utilize a 75-mile stretch of the Platte River in spring migration. Rendered in Vue 7I with no postwork. Models: Incredibly Lush High Grasses and my (unreleased) Shorebirds.

Comments (23)

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Gisela

8:08PM | Tue, 25 August 2009

They're beautiful. Beautiful render

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alan42

8:11PM | Tue, 25 August 2009

this is brilliant - the water is spot on and the variation in the birds shows great attention to detail. great job:)

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wusel

9:32PM | Tue, 25 August 2009

Superb render !!!

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ArtPearl

9:35PM | Tue, 25 August 2009

I like the birds - nice poses and textures. The red spot on their head adds a really good accent. (I realize the red spot is nature's design work, but it's really useful compositionally in images)

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kelvinhughes

1:14AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

excellent Ken this package coming together nice well done havent recieved that you sent me yet

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Kerya

1:26AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

Wonderful scene!

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macbride

1:27AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

excellent scene !

westryde

2:14AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

Looking Good!

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SIGMAWORLD

3:18AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

Excellent scene!

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PointLady

3:53AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

Excellent. These new birds are coming along nicely from your recent renders. Jan

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jgmart

5:04AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

Wow these are awesome Ken - Excellent work!

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Tracesl

5:42AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

great scene, wonderful detail of the tidal marsh

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psyoshida

10:07AM | Wed, 26 August 2009

Ken, I await the release of your new birds, they are just exceptional, as all your birds are. I wish I had had them for my last picture, I had to paint in the red on a crane to try to get that effect. I think you read my mind. Thanks!

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