A mated pair of sandhill cranes lead the way for a youngster on the very long northbound spring migration.
Unlike many birds, sandhill cranes tend to be monogamous (one male mates with one female). Once breeding pairs form, they can remain together for many years. The small family groups fly together within the massive migration flocks.
You can tell by the crimson red “cap” feathers that the two lead birds in this trio are an adult pair. The smaller bird in the rear lacks the adult crimson cap, and is probably last year’s offspring.
Cranes are like geese and often fly in formations. The older stronger birds lead the way, and the younger birds draft in the wake they create. The older cranes even slow their pace to enable the younger birds to keep up during the long migration flights.
I would encourage you to watch the cranes flying at dawn and dusk (Central Time Zone), during the migration on the Rowe Sanctuary live web cam (you will see an ad first): http://bit.ly/24XaVvG
Leave me a comment or email me if you would like more information on the crane migration and photographing them: chrishpetersen@live.com
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