BIG big birds... by GJ

We have a good-sized pond in back of our house, and there is also a bird-feeder between the house and the pond. The feeder attracts mourning* doves, mostly, and their behavior is interesting to behold. The whole “bird scene” is of great interest to Jean. She notices when there are three on top of the feeder, or two inside, or whatever. Her view from her seat at the dining-room table is perfect for her notice.

Every now and then, we get a visit from sand-hill cranes. (Son-in-law Gary says these large creatures are a problem in North Dakota, or somewhere close to Minnesota…I forget.) It seems that large flocks of the cranes will decide to land in farm fields, and due to their size and weight, cause a lot of crop damage.

I have stood as near as three or four feet from one, on occasion, and I’d guess they stand close to four and a half feet tall. (They are “all neck and legs, mostly.”) For about a year or so, three of them came to call. (They eat the seeds that fall from the feeder.) Looked like a mom, pop, and baby. Now, they appear less often, and by ones and twos.

It seems that we are on their “route” from east to west, or vice versa. They sometimes show up at a Perkins’ Restaurant almost due east of us, where a waitress tells us that they approach customers for hand-outs from time to time. About two years ago, the trio of cranes performed for Jean and sister-in-law, Leona. They “danced,” and leaped up and down, and “honked,” for what the ladies say was a long time. (Could have been a mating ritual?)

*Anybody know why they are called mourning instead of morning? We can understand why it is that people get interested in bird behavior.