Sandhill Cranes
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Exodus
Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) remain calm as thousands of Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens) erupt to flight. I used a shutter speed of 1/15 second to intentionally blur the motion and emphasize the chaos and intensity of the moment.
snow geesechen caurulescenssandhill cranesgrus canadensisbirdsbosque del apachenew mexico
From BIRDS
Sandhill Cranes
I observed that Sandhill Crane aggression is more posturing and acrobatics than actual physical contact. I witnessed dozens of ninja-like kick boxing episodes and rarely observed actual physical contact among the combatants. On several occasions I did observe the beak grabbing behavior that is depicted in this image.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Sandhill Cranes
A 30 second exposure perspective of roosting Cranes as observed from the south elevated blind (hide) at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico. A long exposure created ghosting, a mosaic of colors and the flock's images are "etched" onto the surface of the water.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Soul Mates
Sandhill Cranes form monogamous pair bonds, they mate for life and remain together year around. This pair of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) silently forage as they wade a "Crane Pool" at sunrise. Sandhill Cranes spend each night roosting in water safe from coyotes and other predators.
Flight Impressions
A shutter speed of 1/10th of a second allowed me to create an artistic impression of a group of Sandhill Cranes as they take to flight.
Sandhill Cranes
Thousands of Sandhill Cranes roosting on a pond line up and prepare for the morning fly out. The light was too low for me to achieve maximum depth of field so I focused on the middle of the flock rendering the majority of the birds slightly out of focus to create a soft impressionistic perspective. High ISO settings may allow the shutter speed necessary to freeze movement but increasing ISO compromises image quality and introduces noise.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Landing Gear
Coming in for a landing, these massive birds look like jets with their landing gear down as they open their wings in an effort to slow their mass.
Intent to Fly
The Cranes announce their intention to fly by straightening their necks, leaning forward, and lowering their heads.
Sandhill Cranes
This gathering of Cranes presents an opportunity to live amongst them and experience their marvelous behavior including mating rituals, “dancing”, acrobatic territorial fights, posturing, and trumpeting calls. Although I observed several episodes of mating dances, the predominate displays were aggressive interactions that seemed to be territorial and food related. Not unlike school kids fighting in a crowded recess yard, large flocks of Cranes in close quarters seemed to stimulate rowdy behavior that often culminated in leaping - full frontal - spurs up assaults. Vociferous calls, biting, feather ruffling, and strutting typically preceded aggressive interactions.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Sandhill Cranes
Following vehement trumpeting, head bobbing, and posturing, the Cranes would leap into acrobatic confrontations without actual contact. Somehow their culminating arial contests resolve disagreement and temporarily subdue dissension. Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS, RRS TVC 33 tripod, ISO 640, 1/6400 second @ f/5.6.
Sandhill Cranes
The gathering of Cranes at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area is an opportunity to live amongst them and experience their marvelous behavior including mating rituals, “dancing”, acrobatic territorial fights, posturing, and trumpeting calls. Although I observed several episodes of mating dances, the predominate displays were aggressive interactions that seemed to be territorial and food related. Not unlike school kids fighting in a crowded recess yard, large flocks of Cranes in close quarters seemed to stimulate rowdy behavior that often culminated in leaping - full frontal - spurs up assaults. Vociferous calls, biting, feather ruffling, and strutting typically preceded aggressive interactions.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Silhouette Dancer
At sunrise, a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) dances across the water in anticipation to fly. Although large and heavy, Cranes are surprisingly elegant and nimble.
sandhill cranegrus canadensisbosque del apachenew mexicobirdwildlifesilhouette
From BIRDS
Sunset Sandhills
Flying in formation, a flock of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) navigate to the safety of their nightly roosting waters. Cranes migrate from the northern breeding grounds during fall and early winter; large flocks congregate in areas known as staging grounds.
Sandhill Silhouette
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) foraging at dusk. Cranes are omnivorous consuming grains, seeds, berries, corn, insects, amphibians, reptiles, varied invertebrates and even small mammals.
sandhill cranegrus canadensisbosque del apachenew mexicobirdwildlifesilhouette
From BIRDS
Bosque Inferno
Roosting Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese begin their day at sunrise as they navigate to their daily feeding grounds, Bosque del Apache, New Mexico.
sandhill cranegrus canadensissnow geesesunrisebosque del apachenew mexicobirdwildlife
Flight Consideration
Once a Crane or two move to a suitable area for taking off, the entire flock slowly follows and gathers on the "runway" prior to flight. Each morning, the Cranes make their way to these pre-flight staging areas; they line up and wait their turn like jets on a runway at a busy airport.
Capable Crane
Cranes are a marvel of the avian flight world; they are powerful animals capable of flying at altitudes greater than 20,000 feet. At sunrise, this Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) departs the protection of a partially frozen pond for a day of foraging.
Walking on Thin Ice
Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) negotiate thin ice as they move to a more suitable take off venue. Cranes are able to gain the momentum necessary for lift off when they move across open water. During my visit to Bosque, it became evident that lifting off from thin ice was not an option. I did observe them taking off on solid ice which was rather comical because they would often slip and slide their way across the ice in a failed attempt to fly.
Eager to Fly
A pair of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) ardently preparing for flight as they accelerate across the water gaining adequate speed for lifting their heavy bodies to flight.
Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Cranes engage in elaborate dancing and mating rituals; pairs may hop, flap their wings, throw sticks, trumpet, and strut to mention a few of their complex social mating ritual behaviors.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Sandhill Cranes
A sunrise view from the south elevated hide of roosting Sandhill Cranes at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico. Under low light conditions maximizing depth of field is a compromise in terms of shutter speed and rendering moving subjects free from blur. In this situation DOF (depth of field) was the most important to me; the resulting image portraying subtle movement of a quietly roosting flock.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Sandhill Crane
Photographed from one of the ground level blinds as a roosting Crane takes to flight from a pond at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Sandhill Cranes
I observed many instances of stick grabbing and throwing behavior amongst the flocks at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico. Cranes pick up and throw sticks as part of a complex social behavior that may be related to pair bonding or territory definition.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Sandhill Cranes
Raucous trumpeting was the most frequent form of intraspecies intimidation that I observed during my trip to Bernardo. Thousands of Cranes congregate in feeding areas; the close quarters invariably led to territory disputes and food squabbles. Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico.
Antigone canadensisnew mexicosandhill cranebernardobirdflock
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane calling in flight at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/3200 @ f/5.6, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
Canon 5D ivFlightGrus canadensisImageKnowledge and LightNew MexicoPhotographReally Right StuffSteve TornaWildlifeavianbernardobird
From BIRDS
Take a Bow
The Sandhill Cranes put on quite a show during my visit to Bosque del Apache. I'll miss these fantastic creatures and I appreciate the opportunity to have been immersed in their world
