Althouse: Cranes.

July 3, 2011

Cranes.

This evening on the Capitol City Bike Trail.

17 comments:

JR said...: Little bit of topsy-turvy in your video reminded me of my run today in the Great Basin, coming across a gopher snake that biologically mimics a rattler ... mid-air in mid stride ... no time to think ... miss the green of the mid-west, though the California central valley is close ...; 7/3/11, 11:19 PM
Carol_Herman said...: Black cranes? Here the black birds are crows. And, I think they're gorgeous! They usually hang out at the tops of palm trees.; 7/3/11, 11:35 PM
Fen said...: Madison – Former Journal Sentinel reporter Graeme Zielinski, new spokesman for the state Democratic Party: Celebrate by punching a Republican; 7/4/11, 12:50 AM
Pam said...: The sandhill cranes were probably looking for baby black birds. I would think the blackbirds were protecting their young.; 7/4/11, 12:59 AM
Igor Stolyarov said...: Cool video ;); 7/4/11, 5:02 AM
reader_iam said...: OT:

Althouse, I have a question for you, with regard to your effort to migrate from one platform to another. Amongst your team, is there an actual senior technology architect (with serious experience in technical architecture)?; 7/4/11, 5:31 AM
edutcher said...: The cranes are being mean to you?

They're probably all curled up for the night and you guys come along.

Glad you got out and had a nice ride.

The Blonde and one of her brothers went up to her family's cabin in Canada and we've had a crazy day getting her outfitted. Meantime, I'm babysitting the pups.; 7/4/11, 5:38 AM
reader_iam said...: If your crack team is comprised solely of programmers, of whatever type or status, you might want to take another look at your approach (and, also, at theirs).; 7/4/11, 5:43 AM
reader_iam said...: Ann:

I absolutely understand why you'd discard my advice, these days, generally speaking (however I might disagree, generally speaking).

That said, specifically speaking, I think you should pay attention to what I wrote in my previous comments.

As evidence of both my sincerity and goodwill here, note both that I started this comment with "Ann" (recall that I've always honored your preference for "Althouse" both on- and off-line) and that I'm ending it this way:

Regards,

Lori; 7/4/11, 6:07 AM
Toad Trend said...: There have been many 'pterodactyl' sightings here in WNY this spring/summer too.

Herons predominate and the cranes seem to be a bit more camera shy.

If you look hard enough and in the right places you can see the white variety. And yes, they are keenly aware of humans and seek cover whenever possible.; 7/4/11, 7:10 AM
KCFleming said...: Various birds have been trying to build a nest in the small space above a column under our back porch.

Nothing would dissuade them. A plastic owl that hoots, a plastic falcon, synthetic spikes and thorns, a madman with a broom.

Until we placed a deflated mylar balloon with Elmo's face hanging from the ceiling nearby.

Big googly eyes and a red face. Even the neighbors are frightened of it.; 7/4/11, 7:17 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Black cranes? Here the black birds are crows."

The cranes are not black. They are gray/brown. The blackbirds that are harassing them are redwing blackbirds.; 7/4/11, 7:29 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "The cranes are being mean to you?"

The blackbirds were attacking the cranes.; 7/4/11, 7:30 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "The sandhill cranes were probably looking for baby black birds."

They were looking for food. Do birds eat baby birds?; 7/4/11, 7:30 AM
gerry said...: Cranes are opportunistic. They'll eat small animals (like baby birds) in addition to grains and berries.; 7/4/11, 9:24 AM
Rockport Conservative said...: I live where these cranes winter, and actually have some whoopers within 500 feet of me most of the winter. I've never heard of them eating baby birds; but lizards, toads, crabs, crawfish, snakes and other bird edibles have been found in their stomach or excrement.
I love the chortling song of the sandhills; very musical. The whoopers whoop, not musical at all.; 7/4/11, 9:52 PM
Pam said...: Yes Ann, many birds eat other's young. Owls, hawks, crows, magpies, ravens, shrikes...and more. Most by choice, other's by opportunity.
The latter method probably employed by the lovely cranes.

The red winged blackbird's have a lot of pluck (no pun intended!); 7/6/11, 7:18 PM