I saw the pair about an hour ago - same place. It's an odd place for them to remain with such heavy traffic? Could be injured?

Sand Hill Cranes gone from Morse
 

The two Sand Hill Cranes were gone when I returned Friday evening to check on them so I assume they are hopefully ok. The responses were helpful in offering a possible explanation as to why one was lying down and the other standing watch, and I suspect that the female was lying down and the male standing watch because yesterday we saw the same thing on the bank of Lake Sumter, so perhaps it is the season for the females to give birth. Coincidentally on Thursday we stopped while driving on Bailey Trail to allow two adults and two babies to cross the road. It's ironic that after 12 years in the Villages we had never seen one lying down before but we feel much better knowing they are probably safe.

We are on a golf course with the cranes coming often. We have shade and one , both, or all three if the baby is there, lay down under the tree.

Cats notice when we are distressed. It's just that they really don't care.

Doug B, Sad but true!

If it happens again, you can call The Villages Bird Club. They send some one out right away.