Jeffrey saw them first. They came drifting down across the sky in their crazy crane way, and landed on the ice. Then they just stood around looking kind of confused and bent over to peck their beaks against the surface every so often. There seem to be only two but then there were four there for a while. Is one of them the grown-up baby? Did he find himself a mate? I wish that there was a way for me to tell them apart. I feel like I'm the Jane Goodall of the cranes. I want to know all about their social lives. Where did they go? Some local fishing spot where it never freezes? Did the make the flight to somewhere south? They've only been gone about 4 months, so it hardly seems worth the trip. We noted that they seem nice and round. Jeff thought that they might have gotten skinny from either lots of flying or less food. So many mysteries.
All I know is that we are desperate for some signs of Spring around here. Sure, there are pictures of daffodils on this month's calendar page, and the store ads in the Sunday circulars are showing little girls in sleeveless Easter dresses, but we have hardly had any days above freezing this month, and those were still cold, damp and cloudy. There is still snow on the ground and everything is looking as dormant as ever. But the cranes are back! And lots of other birds are around too. When I go outside (meaning when I dart from my car to the door hunching against the blowing sleet) there is chirping going on, and it's lovely! Spring WILL come, it doesn't feel like it yet, but it has to eventually, the calendar says it. 
6 comments:
I noticed that our GEESE were back walking across the ice last week. Not that I can say I'm that excited to see them, and awaiting their lovely packages they like to leave on our beach
Mindy,
I think you should have Larry buy you a sun lamp for your birthday.
Mary Beth
An obscure spot in New Mexico called Bosque Del Apache is where the world's largest concentration of sandhill cranes migrate every fall. The majestic and ancient birds form seas of blue along the Rio Grande.
Heather, Now that you say that I'm wondering what Crane poop looks like...I've never noticed it...
Mary Beth, a sunlamp might be a good idea, that's what they recommend for "Seasonal Affective Disorder" which I probably have. Luckily today is the start of a whole new season so I won't need it until next fall.
Kendrea, Thank you for that information! Imagine those big birds flying all the way to New Mexico! I typed that place into my search engine and learned even more about Sandhill Cranes. But not what their poops look like.
Mindy- Yes- you DO know what goose poop looks like because (sorry Becky if you are reading this) you were at Becky & Hal's wedding!! It was all over the lawn going out to the water, and people kept side stepping, almost like a funny dance. And an item for sale is for the seasonal lack of light - looks like a baseball cap with a row of lightbulbs. Hey- it might scare cranes!!! See you Sunday-- Aunt Chris
I like to think of myself as the Jane Goodall of geese. On Friday I saw two flocks of flying north. They were very high so they had been flying for a while and were planning on going pretty far. I figured they were expecting bad weather south of here and were getting the heck out. Maybe it could also mean that the weather will get better up north before here.
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