Sandhill Crane - Cute true story...

[DeanFL]

The recent Sandhill Crane posting triggered this nice memory:

About 2 years ago a very touching thing happened to Phyllis and me. I lived in Leesburg, and she in Lake Mary FL.
(BTW we now have our new TV home in Gilchrist - I sold my Leesburg home in Dec, and her LM house is closing next month).

Her Lake Mary house is near some large ponds and we walked our dog Chip around them often. During one walk near a pond there we noticed that a single large Sandhill crane was about 20 feet away from us, then was walking very near, closing in about to 10 feet. That's very unusual as they are very timid around humans. Over the next few minutes he continued to follow while we walked, then about 5' away. I noticed that he had some sort of plastic on his beak - it was a small piece of plastic netting, like from a produce bag or such. I told Phyllis - I think he wants us to remove it. I slowly approached him and carefully reached toward his long beak (not wanting to be attacked...) I pinched the plastic netting and he pulled his beak out - it appeared to be attached only to the top beak part, so he was still able to eat.

We couldn't believe what just happened. We continued to walk Chip and the bird slowly moved away then took off across the pond. nice...

Well the very next day, we were walking in the same area and notice 4 Sandhill Cranes across the same pond - about 100' away. A few minutes later, one of them flew right to our spot, about 10' from us and stayed right there. Couldn't prove it, but to this day we believe it was the same guy coming over to say - 'Hey, Thanks'.

Phyllis surprised me a month later with a custom metal Sandhill Crane garden figure -ordered online from an artist. I glued the plastic netting on its beak and placed it in my backyard. It is now moved to our TV house, and we are considering putting it in our backyard here. Pic below.

Couldn't help but share this, what was a very heartwarming story, with our new TV friends,
Dean & Phyllis

[texasfal]

Wonderful story.

[CFrance]

Nice! Thank for sharing.

BTW, does anyone know the outcome of the other crane story?

[perrjojo]

Awwww! Precious story.

[kittygilchrist]

The recent Sandhill Crane posting triggered this nice memory:

About 2 years ago a very touching thing happened to Phyllis and me. I lived in Leesburg, and she in Lake Mary FL.
(BTW we now have our new TV home in Gilchrist - I sold my Leesburg home in Dec, and her LM house is closing next month).

Her Lake Mary house is near some large ponds and we walked our dog Chip around them often. During one walk near a pond there we noticed that a single large Sandhill crane was about 20 feet away from us, then was walking very near, closing in about to 10 feet. That's very unusual as they are very timid around humans. Over the next few minutes he continued to follow while we walked, then about 5' away. I noticed that he had some sort of plastic on his beak - it was a small piece of plastic netting, like from a produce bag or such. I told Phyllis - I think he wants us to remove it. I slowly approached him and carefully reached toward his long beak (not wanting to be attacked...) I pinched the plastic netting and he pulled his beak out - it appeared to be attached only to the top beak part, so he was still able to eat.

We couldn't believe what just happened. We continued to walk Chip and the bird slowly moved away then took off across the pond. nice...

Well the very next day, we were walking in the same area and notice 4 Sandhill Cranes across the same pond - about 100' away. A few minutes later, one of them flew right to our spot, about 10' from us and stayed right there. Couldn't prove it, but to this day we believe it was the same guy coming over to say - 'Hey, Thanks'.

Phyllis surprised me a month later with a custom metal Sandhill Crane garden figure -ordered online from an artist. I glued the plastic netting on its beak and placed it in my backyard. It is now moved to our TV house, and we are considering putting it in our backyard here. Pic below.

Couldn't help but share this, what was a very heartwarming story, with our new TV friends,
Dean & Phyllis

thanks a bunch. I just watched video of dolphins presenting to divers for removal of fishing line.

[LianaB]

:BigApplause:

I'm sure the Big Bird was grateful

[Ecuadog]

Love it.

[gomoho]

Beautiful story that will perhaps have others looking at these and other natural creatures more kindly.

[jebartle]

Thanks for sharing!

[duffysmom]

Thank you, I love happy stories.:ho:

[BarryRX]

Beautiful!

[MikeV]

I truly believe some animals are much smarter than we give them credit for.

[Barefoot]

We need to hear more about experiences like yours.
There are times when animals depend on humans for survival.
Lovely story.
Thanks for sharing.

[jblum315]

Sweet story. Reminds me of the lion with the thorn in his paw and the mouse that became his BFF for getting it out.

[Bonanza]

I loved reading your story. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

It's so nice to read something nice with no anti or negative comments to follow.

Thank you!

[DeanFL]

I'm the OP, Dean.

1st, I got into a bit of trouble here after posting this. Phyllis reminded me that SHE was the first to notice the plastic netting on the Crane's beak. OK... but I was the one brave enough to get so close and reach to get it off BigBird... Alright, we're even.

2nd, it was amazing that he must have sensed trust that we would help and not hurt him. Perhaps because we were with Chip, our little dog. That part hit me the most afterward, warm feeling - yes.

3rd, We do believe the single Crane that flew over to us the next day was 'him'. Phyllis and I both got goosebumps. Chip...well not sure.

And finally - as we age (we're both 65), hearing nice stories is so appealing. Not to hijack my own Thread, but the TV news - esp local, is so depressing. We try to catch the happy/human interest stories at the end of the Network News. I wish they would have a cable news channel with only/all GoodNews stuff. But, as we would guess ratings would not support it for long.

[carolerdh]

Great Story Guys!! I love it!
Carole

[Bay Kid]

Thank you

[dotti105]

Dean (and Phyllis),
I missed this first time around. It is a great experience, thanks for sharing it.
Agree, whole heartedly, about the negative slant to news these days. It is as I it has to be gloom and doom to be "newsworthy". Very unfortunate. Stories like this are heart lifting. Thanks for sharing!

[Uptown Girl]

You're a good human being. :coolsmiley:

[PammyJ]

I LOVE these birds! Every once in a while, they hang out in my front yard....all day! They seem to be very gentle creatures and I love watching them. My husband bought me a pair of statues to put in the front yard because he knows how much I love it when they come around. The birds came after we put them out and sat in front of them for the longest time. Thank you for sharing this story Dean!

[jebartle]

love it!:bigbow:

[Cedwards38]

:coolsmiley:

[DeanFL]

Well, I freshly painted the life-size custom metal Crane piece Phyllis got me. Put it in our backyard near the other "bird stuff". Attached the real-bird plastic netting on its beak too. Nice memories.

[bluedog103]

Thanks for the story. These elegant creatures are my favorite birds. When things are going really bad on the golf course, as they often are, the Sandhill Cranes always lift my spirits.

[The Mountaineer]

Humans are not the only species with emotions and brains. There are many tales of dolphins saving humans in the sea. In Monongah, WV a German shepherd pulled a baby out of the street by its diaper to rescue it from the traffic, in the 1940s when I was growing up. We're all in this world together. If we harm one species, we harm ourselves eventually.

[blaZen]

I have a nice Cajun recipe for them.