Spring birds

I chaperoned a field trip to a nature center today. I saw these two new sightings:

Sandhill Crane:


The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is one of only 15 species of cranes in the world and is one of just two crane species native to North America. While the Whooping Crane, our other native crane, is highly endangered and restricted to only a few areas of the West, the Sandhill is more widespread and in most areas is more abundant. Once nearly eliminated from Michigan, Sandhill Cranes have made a comeback and now are becoming one of the state's most popular watchable wildlife species.

Cranes are tall, stately birds with a heavy body, long neck and long legs. Standing four to five feet high and possessing a wing span of six to seven feet, Sandhill Cranes are Michigan's largest bird. Long, skinny legs and neck give a false impression of size; the males weigh an average of about 12 pounds and the females around 9-1/2 pounds. Except for this size difference, both sexes look alike.

After molting their feathers in late summer, Sandhills are gray except for white cheeks and a bare reddish forehead. Bustle-like feathers further add to a distinctive appearance. The intensity of red in the bald forehead varies depending on behavioral stimulation which controls skin capillaries by restricting or relaxing blood flow. A brighter red forehead is associated with stressful stimuli; on the other hand, a less conspicuous forehead signals submission. Sandhills frequently preen with vegetation and mud stained with iron oxide. Consequently, during most of the year they appear reddish brown rather than gray. Only the hard to reach areas of the upper neck, underwings and head will lack the rusty coloration once the process is completed. This unusual behavior aids to camouflage the nesting birds. Immature Sandhills appear similar to adults except that they are brown in color and the forehead remains feathered until early winter.

The Sandhill Crane is often confused with the Great Blue Heron. Both are large wading birds with pointed bills, long necks and legs, but they do have some major differences. Herons fly with the head and neck tucked back to their shoulders in an "S" while cranes fly with their necks outstretched. The rapid upstroke of the wings is a good field mark for cranes in contrast to the slow steady flap of Great Blue Herons. Cranes nest separately on the ground, while herons nest in large colonies in trees called rookeries. Finally, cranes have a loud trumpet-like call, while the Great Blue Heron utters low hoarse croaks.


American Kestrel (a falcon)

American kestrels are often seen sitting on telephone wires or hovering perfectly still as they hunt for their insect, reptile, and small mammal prey. Occasionally they will hunt small birds, which is why they used to be called "sparrow hawk". Nests in cavities.