The weather is turning, and the nights are getting colder. It is almost time for the Sandhill Cranes to pack up and fly south for the winter. I hate to see them go – these tall majestic birds. I realized the other day that I spent the whole summer watching them strut around in the meadows of the Sawtooth NRA, stopped whatever I was doing every time I heard their incredible calls, became giddy with every close encounter, and yet I really don’t know much about the Sandhill Crane. Except that they have exceptional taste in summer breeding grounds.
So here are some facts about this large bugling bird – just a little something to hold onto for their springtime return:
- Sandhill Cranes ward off predators by jumping in the air and kicking them.
- Like the anadromous salmon, Sandhill Cranes come back to the spot where they were born to breed.
- Unlike the salmon, they do not die directly after mating. In fact, the oldest Sandhill Crane was 36 years old!
- Speaking of old, this bird has been around a long time. The earliest Sandhill Crane fossil is estimated to be 2.5 million years old.
- Sandhill Cranes don’t start breeding until they are 2 – 7 years old.
- When they do finally mate, it is for life. The Sandhill Crane will spend its entire adult life with the same mate. They migrate together, spend their winters together, and raise their offspring together.
- Sandhill Cranes choose their life partners through a ritualistic mating dance. One can witness juvenile cranes performing this dance around the Sawtooth Valley in the spring. And just so you know what to look for, check out the video above for a little preview!
