Sandhill Cranes February 10

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While observing a family of owls, we spotted a pair of Sandhill Cranes nesting not too far away. The birds kept us busy going back and forth to the two locations.

The adult crane stands up. Now we know there are two eggs.

The incubation period for Sandhill Cranes is typically 28-32 days.

We could see that one of the chicks had hatched. Since we were checking daily, this chick must have emerged from the shell within the past 24 hours.

Chick #1 gets some food from one adult while the other adult continues to incubate the second egg in the nest nearby. The chicks are up and around and into the water pretty quickly after hatching.

Chick #2 hatched since we were last here. It is just starting to peek out into the sunshine. The eggs are usually laid 2-3 days apart, so the chicks usually hatch 2-3 days apart.

Chick #2 reaches out for a tiny morsel of food.

The adult offers chick #2 another morsel.

Chick #1 is getting fed by one adult while #2 is still in the nest with the other adult.

Each adult tends to a chick.

#2 is exploring the surroundings. 

After being fed, chick #1 returns to the nest to meet its sibling and dry off a little. #2 seems comfortable in the sunshine.

Chick #2 takes a nap while #1 keeps an eye on things and waits for the next mealtime.

Both chicks move off to the side while the nest gets cleaned up.

Both chicks return to the nest after cleanup.

Both chicks follow the adults as they learn to forage for food and get acclimated to their surroundings.