A Day in the Life of the Sandhill Cranes: The Great Migration { 7 images } Created 16 Mar 2016

Sandhill Crane is a very old species; ancient bones (10 million years old) have been found that are identical to those of modern Sandhill Cranes. Their migration along the Platte River might have happened for million years based n the fossil finding in Nebraska.



Sandhill Cranes mate for life, choosing their partners based on dancing displays. During migration and winter the family units group together with other families and nonbreeders, forming loose roosting and feeding flocks—in some places numbering in the tens of thousands; just like along the Platte River.



Medieval understanding of the cranes: Cranes fly in order, with the leader guiding the flock with a shrill voice; when the leader becomes tired or his voice gives out, another takes his place. They fly high in the air so they can see the lands they seek. At night cranes take turns keeping watch for enemies. The one who is on duty holds a stone up with one claw; if the watcher falls asleep the stone will fall and wake him. If the wind is strong cranes swallow sand or carry stones for ballast.