This Chick is Hungry

Baby sandhill cranes are so much fun to watch. The adults mate for life and the juveniles come along each year, following Mom and Dad around until fully grown, which takes a few months. They often stay together in a community until the young mate and move on.

The young are ungainly, leggy things, still learning their way around the world. Their beaks are too small to break the turf, so they wait patiently while their parents dig out tasty grubs and other treats. They are omnivorous, so they eat tubers, seeds, and insects.

The adults also like to dance and sing. Their song is a raucous call that my wife compares to a velociraptor from Jurassic Park. Once you hear it, you’ll always know it. If you would like to hear the calls, check out this video:

I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about this fascinating species. What do you think of sandhill cranes and their family lifestyle?