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    The Simple Beauty of Sandhill Cranes

    By Orlando on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 9:44pm | Potpourri

    Sandhill Cranes at the Jasper-Pulaski Wildlife Reserve, Medaryville, Indiana

    Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of standing on the side of a field flanked by marshland and farmland, as groups of migrating sandhill cranes flew in from the north, east, and west. Each fall, over 10,000 cranes visit the area around Medaryville, Indiana. Over several weeks, groups of them land in the same field, starting about an hour before sunset. There, they socialize a bit before retiring to the marshes. They come back to the field in the morning, to dance and sing a little bit more, before eating and then continuing their migration south.

    I stood for two hours, watching the same scene play out. Groups from two to two hundred flew over, circled, and then dropped. With their long legs extended straight toward the ground and their wings stretched wide, they almost looked like paratroopers, gliding in for a landing. With each new flock, I was transfixed.

    Sometimes I forget how beautiful Indiana can be. As I prepare to leave it, I'm reminding myself.

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    Comments

    Yep, there's some great crane hunting in Indiana.

    But seriously, fab pic. Nothing like leaving a place to make you appreciate it.


    by Michael Wolraich on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 10:56pm

    Two things O.

    1. Cranes do not stop at the border. Neither should you.

    2. However. In other states you can't hunt them.

    q

     


    by quinn esq on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 10:20am

    We don't hunt them, sillies. Cranes don't taste as good as squirrels.

    Also, thanks, G. I'm pretty sure that's the best picture I've ever taken. I bought a new camera in preparation for my big move and I was trying it out.


    by Orlando on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 4:29pm

    Eat them? You don't eat cranes. You mount them.

    Like sheep.


    by Michael Wolraich on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 8:07pm

    I'm certain I don't want any details as they pertain to you and sheep and mounting.


    by Orlando on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 9:46pm

    Beautiful pic, Orlando. Sure those aren't Canada geese, though?


    by acanuck on Mon, 11/16/2009 - 11:08pm

    Listen, man, geese aren't beholden to your pedestrian ideas about "borders" and "nationality."  They've, like, totally transcended such notions.  I mean, the whole act of flight is a metaphor for transcendence!  You probably see geese flying and think they're trying to get from one place to another.  No way, bro!  They're transcending.  Geese are totally trying to teach you the art of transcendence and all you can think about is contrived political borders.

    Free your mind, dude!


    by DF on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 12:31am

    Canada Geese would kick the shit out of those cranes.


    by quinn esq on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 3:55pm

    Look, I've seen The Karate Kid so I know that there is no defense against the crane kick.


    by DF on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 4:17pm

    I'm sure. There's no noticeable organization to their flying--no V. Here's a somewhat blurry picture, but you can see their long legs trailing.



    by Orlando on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 8:31am