Hermit Thrush Photo by Gary Erickson
It’s that time of the year now in Southeastern Minnesota. The local ponds are filling with migrating geese and ducks. Then I saw my first Hermit Thrush and Eastern Phoebe yesterday and several varieties of native sparrows as well. Then best of all was that strange even froglike croaking call of the arrival of our locally breeding Sandhill Cranes. They became for the first ever summertime residents here only about ten years ago now.
On our spring trips to Colorado to see the Grandchildren, our
halfway overnight stop was usually at Grand Island Nebraska in the Platte
river valley. Arriving a little early on one occasion and having had supper
already, we opted for a short jaunt along the river. The result was amazing as
thousands of Sandhill cranes were seen everywhere in the fields along the
river. They seemed especially partial to picked cornfields. From here, after
feeding and resting for a bit they would eventually head north as far as Canada
and even Eastern Siberia. It was the first time we had ever seen these magnificent
birds
In the wild sandhills are very wary yet in Feb. we found some right along the Atlantic beachfront in Florida mingling with the tourists...:)
“There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration
of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.”--Rachel
Carson
That is so cool to see the sandhill cranes. I like seeing all the footage about them on tv but never have seen them in real person. I lived near the Missouri River once but that is not the one they like to gather at for making their great sounds.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to see the Sandhill crane migration in Nebraska. They are such exotic-looking birds and so huge. I saw them in the farm fields and even beside the road at home in Minnesota and Wisconsin and my mom has them walking them in her yard around the pool quite often in Florida.
ReplyDeleteI love the quote from Rachel Carson.
Hubby and I never miss the Sandhills. We stay over by Kearney . Hit them perfect this year---arriving!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're getting your migrants. It MUST mean a warm-up (finally!)
Love watching these, one could almost miss them if not aware.I have enjoyed the arrival in Grand Island many times.
ReplyDeleteSandhills are my favorite bird. I love the sound they make while so high in the air. A baby Sandhill is the cutest thing ever. Long legged balls of orange feathers.
ReplyDeleteI love the Sandhill Cranes. We saw them often when we lived in WI. None here in NC mountains. The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have just passed through and the hummingbirds are here for the summer. I do love the Spring migration.
ReplyDeleteI love the call of the sandhills. We had some come in last week.
ReplyDeleteWell, southern Ontario is a good ways off that migration route, but I heard my first Sandhill just the other day.
ReplyDeleteBird migrations are so impressive.
ReplyDeleteThe sandhill is quite an interesting bird. How lucky you were to observe them and and their migratory patterns.
ReplyDeleteIt must be nice to know what everything is called. I'm bird ignorant, except for the regulars around here. My daughter is being bombarded by hummingbirds right now and I hope to make it out there before they're gone.
ReplyDeleteI love migrating birds! I always love to see the feathered visitors :) it never ceases to amaze me
ReplyDeleteOur migrating birds are a lot different to yours but still enjoyable to watch. What a surprise to see a Crane walking along the beach front. I love all birds and would have been in my element if I'd been there.
ReplyDeleteI too love to learn about birds, migrations and seasons of different birds in different parts of the world. Your pictures are wonderful, TB. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe have two pair of phoebes nesting, and 2 wood duck pairs, and one pair of mallards.I'm so happy! Spring!
ReplyDelete(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!
Hermit Thrush is a bird that I'm sure we don't get here in North Carolina. I love the cranes too and they were all over the place when I visited my granddaughter in Tampa last year.
ReplyDeleteI used to stop at the Bossleman's truck stop in Grand Island, right on the Platte. The river goes along the back of the parking lot. It's very, very pretty down there. I walked along the river one evening and saw a lot of wildlife, things landing in the water, big things sliding into the water as I approached, deer, raccoons, but not cranes. In the back of one of those corn fields you mention someone had planted some marijuana plants. It was flabbergasting at first but then it kind of made me nervous. I worried they might be guarding them, or the cops might be staking them out. I kept moving.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that post, and the pictures.
Evening, love the bird migration, so many wonderful fine feathered friends to see.Blessings Francine.
ReplyDeleteWe see a few now and then, always fun to see! I hope you and Mrs T and Lily are having a good spring! :)
ReplyDeleteThat must be a quote from Silent Spring, which moved me deeply when I read it years ago.
ReplyDeleteI love the call of the Sandhill Cranes. We see a few every year, but not in great numbers.
I wonder if those cranes are what I saw going down the lake heading north the other evening. Several groups went by and most interesting to see how they would form a long line and ride the currents in the air.
ReplyDeleteWe used to do that I-80 drive to Denver. Never stopped to see anything though -- just kept on driving. Kearney was our usual stop, if we did. I think there is a Pony Express stop exhibit there also.
Hi Troutbirder, This is an excellent post. Sandhills are some of my favorite birds. Looking at the migration chart one might not think they would be in western Montana too much, but in the Madison Valley, we used to see them every summer. I loved hearing their lonesome call in the mornings. Thanks for your recent comment on my blog about Yellowstone. It is very neat to have a blogger stop by and leave me a comment when I know they appreciate YNP like I do. Best regards from Seattle!
ReplyDeleteIt's so crazy when you see a big bird like that just walking down the road!
ReplyDelete