One of the times I spoke at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (I was a writer-in-residence) my hosts took me to where the Sandhill cranes had stopped on their migration and it was eerie and amazing, especially their cry.
Yes, the Platte River in Nebraska is a major stopover for the cranes. They come there by the hundreds of thousands. The few times I've been near enough to the Platte the cranes had already come and gone. I've heard it's just amazing, the sights and sounds. https://www.audubon.org/magazine/cranes-platte-river
It's like something prehistoric. I was so grateful to my kind hosts and I loved speaking in classes that had read my work too. The story I read to a packed audience ended up being anthologized. Sadly, both of the main contacts there have long since died.
This was beautiful and oh so poignant. We lose wildlife and destroy our environment at our peril. I wish we did a better of job of protecting our home (Earth) and also teaching children the awesome resonance of nature in our lives and souls.
Very nice commentary. The cranes, once a rare sight in our Lower Michigan neck-of-the-woods, have become more numerous and, sure enough, there those who feel they should be hunted. A few years back there was a call to hunt mourning doves. I grew up and took part in the heyday of pheasant and quail hunting, but not every creature needs to be a target.
I'd never seen a Sandhill Crane prior to moving to SE Wisconsin 10 years ago, but am fortunate enough to have fields and marshland behind our property to hear their arrival every spring. There is no mistaking that call!
Haven't seen their mating dance yet, but have seen groups of 3 to 6 flying overhead during the summer; it truly is an aerial ballet!
Currently, there's a motion before the WI legislation to to resume hunting them; needless to say, I hope it fails. We lose enough wildlife environmentally without actively decimating it.
On a rainy morning in Maryland your words transported me back to, perhaps, 2009 or thereabouts, when I lived in Western Colorado and could often hear but not see these amazing creatures. Their call while traveling, keeping track of each other, encouraging, I like to think, is truly something to behold. The great San Juan valley around Alamosa near Great Sand Dunes NP is another major stopover and stunning.
Predawn it appears that the fields are simply light brown as they often are in spring and fall. Then you see a flutter of color and motion. And then another. And then you wait and the earth comes to life, flies northeast to....Michigan?
Thanks, Mona, for reminding me of something almost forgotten. J
Thank you for your own remembrance, Janice. They are amazing creatures. It's hard to be in their presence and not feel as if we're privy to some part of nature so astonishing the moment has to be captured.
I hope they never become so commonplace we begin to think of them as nuisances.
I thought this reply in my brain but then did not act! Your comment is distressing, really. I've had people here in the Chesapeake Bay complain that the Osprey have done so well that now they land everywhere and do their thing. Well, even 10 years ago they were rare and beautiful and sought after. It is nearly unfathomable how our perspectives change.
They must be glorious! We are blessed with Great Blue Herons, but I gather those are not as large as your cranes. The quote from Wallace Stegner and how far we haven't come. :sigh: It's hard press on, but we do. Because we need to remember.
One of the times I spoke at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (I was a writer-in-residence) my hosts took me to where the Sandhill cranes had stopped on their migration and it was eerie and amazing, especially their cry.
Yes, the Platte River in Nebraska is a major stopover for the cranes. They come there by the hundreds of thousands. The few times I've been near enough to the Platte the cranes had already come and gone. I've heard it's just amazing, the sights and sounds. https://www.audubon.org/magazine/cranes-platte-river
It's like something prehistoric. I was so grateful to my kind hosts and I loved speaking in classes that had read my work too. The story I read to a packed audience ended up being anthologized. Sadly, both of the main contacts there have long since died.
This was beautiful and oh so poignant. We lose wildlife and destroy our environment at our peril. I wish we did a better of job of protecting our home (Earth) and also teaching children the awesome resonance of nature in our lives and souls.
Very nice commentary. The cranes, once a rare sight in our Lower Michigan neck-of-the-woods, have become more numerous and, sure enough, there those who feel they should be hunted. A few years back there was a call to hunt mourning doves. I grew up and took part in the heyday of pheasant and quail hunting, but not every creature needs to be a target.
I'd never seen a Sandhill Crane prior to moving to SE Wisconsin 10 years ago, but am fortunate enough to have fields and marshland behind our property to hear their arrival every spring. There is no mistaking that call!
Haven't seen their mating dance yet, but have seen groups of 3 to 6 flying overhead during the summer; it truly is an aerial ballet!
Currently, there's a motion before the WI legislation to to resume hunting them; needless to say, I hope it fails. We lose enough wildlife environmentally without actively decimating it.
Enjoyed this entry, thank you!
There’s no good reason to hunt them. They do land in farmers fields but their migration is over before planting starts. And nobody eats them.
This is so beautiful, thanks for sharing it again, Ramona.
On a rainy morning in Maryland your words transported me back to, perhaps, 2009 or thereabouts, when I lived in Western Colorado and could often hear but not see these amazing creatures. Their call while traveling, keeping track of each other, encouraging, I like to think, is truly something to behold. The great San Juan valley around Alamosa near Great Sand Dunes NP is another major stopover and stunning.
Predawn it appears that the fields are simply light brown as they often are in spring and fall. Then you see a flutter of color and motion. And then another. And then you wait and the earth comes to life, flies northeast to....Michigan?
Thanks, Mona, for reminding me of something almost forgotten. J
Thank you for your own remembrance, Janice. They are amazing creatures. It's hard to be in their presence and not feel as if we're privy to some part of nature so astonishing the moment has to be captured.
I hope they never become so commonplace we begin to think of them as nuisances.
I thought this reply in my brain but then did not act! Your comment is distressing, really. I've had people here in the Chesapeake Bay complain that the Osprey have done so well that now they land everywhere and do their thing. Well, even 10 years ago they were rare and beautiful and sought after. It is nearly unfathomable how our perspectives change.
They must be glorious! We are blessed with Great Blue Herons, but I gather those are not as large as your cranes. The quote from Wallace Stegner and how far we haven't come. :sigh: It's hard press on, but we do. Because we need to remember.
Thanks, Mona.