Mesmerized by Sandhill Cranes

Ever since we moved to Florida 15 years ago, I’ve delighted in identifying and watching the wildlife, especially the birds. Although I don’t consider myself a serious birdwatcher, I watch them from my kitchen window as they saunter around the large pond behind our home. So I can now easily identify snowy egrets and herons, and on my morning walks I see cardinals, kingfishers, cormorants, and the rare pileated woodpeckers.

But it’s impossible to ignore what we call our “redheads”: the sandhill cranes. Aside from the fact that they are very large and beautiful, they have a call that will literally travel for miles. And they pair for life. In the spring, we often see families wandering the subdivision, as the parents look out for their babies. Sometimes there are two chicks, and sometimes, sadly, only one (as some predator probably had one of the eggs for lunch).

Something special has happened this spring, though. For the first time (at least that we’ve noticed), we have nesting cranes! The nest is directly across from our home on the bank of the pond. The couple take turns on the nest, although we’ve been unable to detect a pattern. It seems like mama gets stuck on the nest much more than papa. If there’s a pattern at all, we hear papa (who is quite a bit larger than his mate) yelling for her to relieve him in the morning. He stands at the edge of the nest and waits until she shows up. I imagine him saying, “Well, it’s about time! Where have you been? Scarfing up worms and bugs??" She takes her place on the nest, and papa disappears for the time being.

I’m most fascinated by the incubation period, which is 32 days. I know they are just bird brains, but the instinct and determination to sit on those eggs for just over a month is amazing. Do any of us have the patience to stick with something for that long, day in and day out?

They may be bird brains, but maybe they can teach us something about patience and commitment.