Sandhill Cranes at Dawn - Lassen County California
by Mike Lee
Title
Sandhill Cranes at Dawn - Lassen County California
Artist
Mike Lee
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are one of my favorite bird species. These large wading birds can weigh over 10 pounds, with wingspans exceeding 7 feet, and stand more than 4 feet tall with their long necks. While no one will ever call them "songbirds," their loud, trilling calls can be heard from at least a mile away and almost hurt your ears when you're closer than 100 feet or so (I may be exaggerating, but only slightly). This is especially true when they engage in "unison calls" during their pair bonding process for breeding.
They are migratory birds, often wintering in the southern USA and Mexico, then breeding as far north as Alaska, with some pockets of breeding habitat in the continental USA. My native Honey Lake Valley in Lassen County, California, is one of these pockets where they pair up and raise their young, known as colts. Among my “bucket list” shots are their elaborate mating dances and, of course, their colts. As of this writing, I’m still looking for those images.
On this chilly mid-March morning, I saw this pair standing in a marshy area near where my wife and I like to take our walks in the Fleming Unit of the Honey Lake Wildlife Area. As we walked along, they decided it was time to get airborne—I’m not sure if it was because of us or if they simply thought it was time. We were a fair distance away when they took off. Either way, at least they were nice enough to fly by us on their way to their next destination, perhaps their nesting area. I thought they looked quite beautiful soaring past the still snow-covered mountains that define our little valley.
Uploaded
March 20th, 2025
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