Sandhill Cranes by PatGoltz
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Description
Grus canadensis.
Southeastern Arizona, USA, is famous for its breeding populations of Sandhill Cranes. The official count of birds for last year was just under 30,000.
I found these at Apache Station Wildlife Area, near Willcox. I got there about 3:30, and I could hear them calling to each other, almost like the guidance system at airports flashes lights for incoming planes. Large flocks of birds, numbering between 20 and 100, were flying in. I think one flock had close to 200. They came in, wave after wave, from the north, and would circle and land facing north. The birds on the ground were all watching them. By the time I left close to sunset, I think there were between 1000 and 3000 birds right in that small area. It was an awesome experience, especially for a desert dweller.
Comments (5)
junge1
Great capture. I will be in Willcox next weekend and hope to go to the area and will try to take some pictures!
phfrancke
WOW! wonderful image - wings of confusion. I'm glad they're all going the same direction. I imagine it would make an air traffic controller nervous to look at this. -grin- My fast, but probably not correct count is 42 (which is think also happens to be the answer to the ultimate question of life.
whaleman
This is very nice! I like the way they fly in that disorganized manner especially compared with geese.
angora
amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!!! great capture!
Hubert
Cranes are beautiful birds. Well captured!