Sandhill Cranes 001

One of our neighbors has a meadow where a family of Sandhill Cranes nest. I was fortunate to be able to photograph the babies when they were just a few days old. They were hardly visible walking across the hayfield.

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I saw them again this week and in a month’s time the baby has grown substantially. It looks like predators have gotten one of the babies. Sandhill Cranes seem to be more common in Northern Minnesota in the last few years.

One spring Karla and I rented a blind at the Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska to witness the spring migration. Over a million Sandhill Cranes go through Nebraska on their way up north. We woke up to several thousand in front of our blind. Between the sights and sounds it was a memorable experience.

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Veery Nest 001

While mowing this last week I noticed a nest just a few inches off the ground alongside the trail. Turned out to be a Veery Nest. Veery’s are one of the Thrushes. The babies were already feathered out so I knew they wouldn’t be there long.

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Veery Nest 002

I set up my blind to photograph the parents bringing in food. At first the babies didn’t stick their heads up very far. The parents fed them insects along with these bright green worms.

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After a couple of days of growth, the babies were more restless for food.

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Soon they were almost falling out the nest when the adults came.

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Veery Nest 005

The adults would make sure the worms and insects got down into the babies’ mouths.

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Veery Nest 006

It is kind of gross but the adults keep the nest clean by either eating or carrying away the fecal sack.

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In less than a week after I noticed the nest the babies were testing out their wings.

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In the evening the sunlight came through the pines and lite up the nest making for good photos.

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It didn’t take long before their feathers were fully developed and they left the nest.

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