Sandhill cranes eat potatoes!

[DP]

We were at a friend's place on the lake for Independence Day festivities. Food, drink, and going out on the pontoon to watch the fireworks were the order of the day. But while we're waiting for it to get dark, all of a sudden a group of Sandhill Cranes come flying in to the shallows on the canal! I didn't know they are waterbirds too! They waded in the shallows like herons.



Then, one swims over to where we are and guests are looking warily as these birds are large and have long sharp bills! Why is it approaching? Does it think we are a threat and it's defending it's family?



No! Our host has been feeding this guy and it has become tame and trusting!



And it loves potatoes! Someone made a potato dish and our host was feeding the crane with them. It was chowing on the potatoes!

Sorry for the quality as they are cell phone pix shot at high ISO and it was after sunset. The images are darker than what you see.

But I'm so surprised that these birds didn't seem to be bothered at all by the boat traffic (it's a popular lake), the fireworks, and us!

[Ombligo]

In Florida, the feeding of Sandhill Cranes is illegal, it is part of the same statue that makes feeding alligators illegal.

We get them around us regularly, along with the occasional Whooping Crane (my area was the wintering site for Operation Migration's reintroduction effort)

[NewtonMP2100]

....thought this would be about Denny......Denny....CRANE.......


....or Marion CRANE [ Janet Leigh's character in 'Psycho' ].....

[freeradical]

I only see Sandhill Cranes in the winter here in Sacramento. They show up around October, and depart in early March.

[OWC Jamie]

Pretty cool
I hope that crane never walks right up to despicable Johnny-would-like-to-snap-your-neck though.

[hal]

I know I'm in the minority, but BOOOOOO! Don't mess with wildlife - leave it entirely alone. I'll get off my soapbox now...

[freeradical]

hal wrote:
I know I'm in the minority, but BOOOOOO! Don't mess with wildlife - leave it entirely alone. I'll get off my soapbox now...

No, you're not.

That bird could use its beak to pop an eyeball like a zit.

[nwyaker]

hal wrote:
I know I'm in the minority, but BOOOOOO! Don't mess with wildlife - leave it entirely alone. I'll get off my soapbox now...

:agree:

[Rick-o]

Cool pics and story, DP! (tu)

And put me in the column of the folks who don't mind feeding the wild critters. It gives my elderly Pop a lot of joy.