October 09, 2008

Grus on the Loose

Three southbound flights of sandhill cranes went over us today, as many as 40 in a group, at medium altitude -- loose V's and W's of birds, pale grey flickers as their wings moved.

I can't help but think that their call must preserve the sound of some dinosaur or other.

The local newspaper's "Peaks of the Past" (reprinted news items from earlier times) offered this item from its equivalent 1908 issue: "A flock of wild geese, about 30 in number, passed over Westcliffe Thursday evening."

If a flock of geese was notable a century ago, were there any cranes at all? Fewer than 1,000 in 1940, says Wikipedia.

Some things have gotten better. Bodio might be seeing these birds soon.

3 comments:

Camera Trap Codger said...

Yes, they are arriving. Last weekend we counted two groups of about 50 each at Llano Seco in the Sacramento Valley. Nice to have around.

Beverly said...

I am south of you...and watched about 50 fly overhead about a week ago; surely on their way to the San Luis Valley. My pal BosqueBill is waiting with baited breath for their arrival in New Mexico. Soon, very soon.

Gary Lefko (Nunn, CO) apparently has seen thousands in the fields near his home!

http://www.greatpikespeakbirdingtrail.org/profiles/blog/show?id=715881%3ABlogPost%3A23955

Chas S. Clifton said...

Where do those California sandhills winter?