Sandhill cranes gather to roost in the Platte River in the midst of their migration. Cranes roost standing up in shallow water bodies where any approach by predators is quickly audible. Here, the weather was cloudy and dark until the sun came out for a few minutes at end of the day and created an arresting scene.
Sandhill cranes land to join their feeding colleagues at a cornfield in the Bosque del Apache NWR. I particularly liked the dynamics in this image that conveys the social behavior of these birds as well as the chaos of feeding at end of the day before going to roost.
Sandhill Cranes Takeoff Abstract
A group of sandhill cranes take off past sundown to their roosting spot at the Bosque del Apache NWR. I was shooting long exposure panning shots and liked the combination of the cranes against the cornfield they were feeding on, especially in the evening light.
A flock of cranes are silhouetted against a cloudless sky as they fly back to their roosting grounds past sunset at Bosque del Apache.
Sandhill Crane Banking to Land
A sandhill crane banks as it lands in a cornfield at the Bosque del Apache NWR. I liked the topwing view of the crane framed by the Chupadera mountains in background.
A sandhill crane pair takes off to start the day at the Bosque Del Apache NWR. Cranes roost in large numbers, but unlike snowgeese, take off either in pairs or small numbers. Here, the rising sun made the background glow creating a complement to icy waters of the Rio Grande river.
Wintering cranes gather on a cornfield in late afternoon to socialize and feed before turning in for the day. Cranes are known for their loud calls, and the noise and dust created by the cranes have to experienced to be believed. I was captivated by the dusty back-light and sheer number of cranes.
Sandhill Cranes Feeding at Dusk
Sandhill cranes at Bosque del Apache feed at sundown before retiring for the night.
Sandhill Cranes Feeding at Sunset
Sandhill cranes actively feed on the Rio Grande river at sun down. Their food consists of grains, vegetation, insects and molluscs. I was drawn to the texture of the water in the evening light.
