Monday, December 22, 2008

Great Blue Herons? or Sandhill Cranes?

A couple of weeks ago, we were awakened to the sound of herons calling to each other. "Breakfast is served...Breakfast is served"! :) It was a grey foggy morning, and though we looked and looked, we couldn't see anything. Then as the fog lifted...there they were. Hundreds of them across the road, eating to their hearts content. Watching them fly in to the "restaurant" was quite something. Their wing spans are 6' plus. We have always called them Herons but after looking in my birding field guides, I have come to the conclusion that these were not Herons, but Sandhill Cranes. Herons DO frequent our area, but they are primarily, believe it or not, carnivorous. They feed on fish and small mammals! Sandhill cranes on the other hand are grey, with a very similar look, but feed by "probing and gleaning the ground for insects and waste grain". Well, this was not waste grain! The field had just been planted but a week before!! Either way, Heron or Crane, they were fun to watch and listen to.

2 comments:

Debbi said...

I found you! . . .on Elizabeth's computer, mine's still on the fritz. . .ah well, more time for babysitting, I guess! I love your blog, and Marie's, I've been reading them to Elizabeth {yelling downstairs} so she doesn't have to climb. You should write more! I'm enjoying your memories with you! ~ Love, the other Debbi

Anonymous said...

Deb, thanks so much for offering a piece off your rhubarb plant! I may take you up on that the next time I'm in the Modesto area! Thank you so much!
---Kari
P.S. Very fun to see your blog, too! :)