Sand Hill Crane Colts coming soon near you.
 

Sand Hill Cranes are sitting on eggs around The Villages. Soon we will be seeing scenes like this.

I've been a hunter all my life, and I know that sandhill cranes are known as "Ribeye of the sky", but in truth I could never kill such a beautiful, regal bird as a sandhill crane.

Beautiful pictures!

what's the roundabout area where this pic was taken? i want to keep a watchful eye while driving

Sandhills
 

What is the gestation period for these birds? Wasn't more than a month ago I saw a flock of them -- maybe as many as 30 -- doing their dance, and already there are colts. (Or maybe that wasn't a mating dance marathon but a political convention to choose a new leader. Maybe it will be Larry Bird. )

Or Robin Willams?

Looks more like the chicken dance to me. Da da da da da da da

Birds
 

Or Fraser Crane.

"Sandhill crane nests are built by both mates with grass, moss, and sticks. Females lay two eggs that incubate for 32 days. Both male and female participate in incubating the eggs (Nesbitt 1996). The offspring will begin traveling from the nest with their parents just 24-hours after hatching."

Love the pics. Thanks.

Darling! I can hardly wait to see them this year! Thank you for the photos.

That is amazing that it only takes 32 days to hatch and they’re up and moving within a day!
I love watching these babies grow up… Thanks so much for Sharing your beautiful pictures!

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

What beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing.

Lifetime
 

Our community in SRQ sends out flyers to each home this time of year, reminding everyone that the sandhill cranes mate for life. Makes me especially paranoid when I drive by an area where I know they are nesting. There is one couple who set up home on the median of a very busy road. Many times one of them will just walk out (which would be the left lane) and stop traffic.

Thanks for sharing this; some of the cutest photos ever appearing on this website! Glad to know that they are protected in TV.

Ohiobuckeye
 

How do cranes pick place to raise their colts? Do they like populated areas or do they just like open areas like Golf Courses?

Great pictures. Thanks.

Thank you those pictures are great. Anybody know where are they?

I adore them! They are the most graceful birds and in flight, they purr like cats.Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos!

sand cranes
 

i love your photos

Alemorkam, looking forward to your future pictures!! You do such a great job!

We all see them BUT what are we seeing. Mate for life? Seems to me I most often see groups of three. Avoiding threesome jokes.
They seem to be lazy. Typically walk across the road rather than fly. Is it just in the Villages?
They don't seem to see or care about cars. Are they playing chicken with cars? I've never seen a crushed one.