The Great Grus Canadensis Gathering

 The spring migration of sandhill cranes is truly one of the great spectacles of nature and a birder's delight. They arrive in waves from various southern wintering grounds beginning in mid February and continue until early April. In the weeks ahead I hope to make several posts with current photos and information about the extraordinary sandhill crane gathering and possibly a few pics of some of the other estimated 300 species that will also be passing through on their northbound journey.

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The Trumpeters

 A small flock of some 20 plus trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) have chosen a lake (with some open water) in the Omaha metro as their place to winter over before heading north again, most likely in late February. The trumpeter swan is considered to be the world's largest extant species of waterfowl.. They mate for life and congregate in small groups or families rather than travel in large flocks. Their loud, resonant, bugling voice is unmistakable. The trumpeters are native to North America and have a black bill with a long straight neck and do not share the bright orange bill and classic S shaped neck of the introduced Eurasian mute swan more commonly seen in urban ponds and lakes.

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Day's End on the Plains

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Vibrant Vermilion

The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) stands out vividly in winter white.

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Lesser is Sometimes Greater

Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) 

Among the hundreds of thousands of migrating sandhill cranes now converging on the
Platte River Valley in Nebraska are several subspecies including the greater and lesser sandhill cranes.
The greater cranes are a little taller (4 to 5 feet) and slightly heavier (10-12 lbs)  than the their lesser cousins.
It's estimated that the lessers represent 90% of the total sandhill cranes passing through.
It is such a pleasure to get into the mix of their migration and experience their large numbers in the evening as they return to roost along the river valley and then to catch them again the next morning at dawn as these large graceful birds suddenly make for the heavens with a deafening cacophony of chatter.
It is truly one of nature's premier spectacles.

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Happy Turkeys Day

Wild Turkeys running free in a Nebraska cornfield.

Can almost hear Lightnin' Hopkins singing, " Long gone, long gone like a turkey through the corn."

Wild Bird Wednesday

Redbird

Hey, you looking at me?

Of all our backyard songbirds, the Northern Cardinal, cardinalis cardinalis, is probably our favorite. The clear, whistling melodies exchanged with its mate through all the seasons never fail to get our attention.

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Fine Feathered Friends

 Atticus

 Creighton

 Borgia

Lovey

Four members of the Backyard Feeder Bunch

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