New on 500px : We are Family by chrishpetersen by chrishpetersen

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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New on 500px : Uniqueness (2 of 2) by blue_iris by blue_iris

A hybrid Canada Goose x domestic goose (with snow on its beak) visits Ottawa during spring migration. Supposedly it has been coming to this area for the last 5 or 6 years!

Sorry if I have not visited your photostream or said Hi lately. I have been really busy with work.

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New on 500px : Miracle of Flight by chrishpetersen by chrishpetersen

A sandhill crane soars overhead with elegance and grace … creating a sense of wonder at nature’s miracle of flight.

Mother Nature has been working on the miracle of flight with cranes for a long time!! A 10 million year old crane fossil has been found in Nebraska. To put that in perspective, homo sapiens have only been around about 200,000 years.

From the perspective in this photo you can appreciate the amazing construction of wings that can span more than 7 feet (2m). There are intricate overlapping layers of wing feathers that enable this bird to soar up to 13,000 feet in altitude.

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. When you click you will first have to watch an ad before you can view the web cam for free: http://bit.ly/24XaVvG

Leave me a comment or email me if you would like more information on the crane migration or photographing them: chrishpetersen@live.com

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