Sandhill Cranes

Antigone canadensis

Sandhill Cranes are large, tall gray birds with very long legs, long necks, and a straight bill. Adults have light cheeks and a red crown.

My First Of Year Sandhill Crane

By |2024-02-25T04:02:29-07:00February 25th, 2024|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

While I was at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago, I heard and saw my first Sandhill Crane of the year. The calling crane was in flight, way off in the distance.

Communing With Sandhill Cranes

By |2023-03-13T05:47:19-06:00March 13th, 2023|Categories: Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've been thinking a lot about Sandhill Cranes recently so I am going back in time to nine years ago today when I photographed them in Wayne County, Utah.

Migrating Sandhill Cranes On The Wing

By |2023-02-25T15:39:53-07:00February 25th, 2023|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I heard through the grapevine that Sandhill Cranes have returned to Farmington Bay WMA. Since the cranes are there they might be at other Utah locations too.

Wasatch Mountain Range Sandhill Crane Images

By |2022-08-01T05:05:20-06:00August 1st, 2022|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning I spent ten minutes taking Sandhill Crane images high in the Wasatch Mountain Range after finding a pair of cranes next to an alpine creek.

Solitary Sandhill Crane Foraging In A Pasture

By |2022-07-14T04:21:39-06:00July 14th, 2022|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I took this adult Sandhill Crane photo earlier this week as the crane foraged for food in a grassy horse pasture high up in the Wasatch Mountains.

February Tundra Swan Photos Plus Some Very Early Sandhill Cranes

By |2023-02-25T04:22:20-07:00February 11th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Late last month I mentioned that I hadn't yet gotten the Tundra Swan photos that I wanted to take. Yesterday at Bear River MBR I was delighted to remedy that situation.

Was the Killing Of Bob The Sandhill Crane Really Necessary?

By |2024-02-05T05:12:53-07:00September 5th, 2021|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Beaverhead County, Birds, Box Elder County, Centennial Valley, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Montana, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of the other things that made me upset with Bob the Sandhill Crane being killed is that this could have been prevented.

Coyote Stalking Adult Sandhill Cranes

By |2021-05-12T05:52:46-06:00May 12th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Coyotes, Sandhill Cranes, Summit County, Utah, Wasatch Mountains|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday morning while up in the Wasatch Mountains I heard Sandhill Cranes calling repeatedly and when I spotted them I also found a Coyote near the cranes.

An Assortment Of Spring Birds From Bear River MBR

By |2021-12-04T04:11:12-07:00April 23rd, 2021|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Clark's Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Eared Grebes, Forster's Terns, Gadwalls, Great Blue Herons, Long-billed Curlews, Red-winged Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Western Grebes, White-faced Ibises, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today I wanted to share an assortment of spring birds all photographed at Bear River MBR yesterday on a bright and beautiful morning.

Ten Sandhill Cranes At Bear River MBR

By |2021-03-02T05:33:35-07:00March 2nd, 2021|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was the highlight of my morning to find, observe, listen to, and photograph ten Sandhill Cranes at Bear River MBR yesterday.

World Wetlands Day 2021

By |2024-03-13T04:38:39-06:00February 2nd, 2021|Categories: American Bitterns, American Coots, Bald Eagles, Barn Owls, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Black-crowned Night Herons, Blue-winged Teals, Brewer's Blackbirds, Centennial Valley, Cinnamon Teals, Common Checkered-Skippers, Common Mergansers, Conservation, Eight-spotted Skimmers, Environment, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Greater Scaups, Green-winged Teals, Halloween Pennants, Hooded Mergansers, Least Sandpipers, Lesser Scaups, Long-tailed Weasels, Marsh Wrens, Montana, Moose, Muskrats, Northern Harriers, Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Reddish Egrets, Redheads, Ruddy Ducks, Rusty Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, Scarlet Skimmers, Snowy Egrets, Spotted Sandpipers, Tricolored Herons, Trumpeter Swans, Tundra Swans, Utah, Variegated Meadowhawk, White-faced Ibises, Wildflowers, Wilson's Phalaropes, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Yellow-headed Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

February 2nd is World Wetlands Day to raise global awareness about the critical role of wetlands for people, wildlife and our planet.

My First Of Year Sandhill Crane Sightings

By |2022-07-14T06:23:54-06:00February 26th, 2020|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was delighted to hear the Sandhill Cranes calling yesterday. Their bugling calls touch me and remind me that I am every bit a part of nature as the cranes are.

My First Of Year Sandhill Cranes!

By |2022-07-14T06:21:35-06:00March 12th, 2019|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Davis County, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

I was very excited to spot my first of year Sandhill Cranes yesterday near the causeway to Antelope Island where a pair of the cranes were foraging on the flats of the Great Salt Lake.

Adult Sandhill Crane At The Edge Of A Summer Storm In Montana

By |2022-07-14T05:06:56-06:00February 4th, 2019|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was drawn to this photo because of the light on the Sandhill Crane and the grasses it was foraging in plus how that contrasts with the dark shadows on the mountains behind the bird.

Sandhill Cranes In Flight During Spring Migration

By |2022-07-14T06:19:50-06:00March 12th, 2018|Categories: Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The last couple of times I have gone to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and further north of there I have been so happy to hear and see, even if from a long distance, the return of our Sandhill Cranes.

American Avocets, American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes Have Returned

By |2021-04-29T03:42:35-06:00February 11th, 2018|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Birds, Sandhill Cranes|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm excited that the American Avocets, American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes have returned to northern Utah because I look forward to seeing and photographing them again.

Sandhill Cranes Plus Views of Flooded Marshes at Bear River MBR

By |2022-07-14T05:11:39-06:00March 16th, 2017|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw and photographed a mated pair of Sandhill Cranes yesterday morning in the marsh from the auto tour loop and watched them search for food.

I Adore Sandhill Cranes

By |2022-07-14T06:18:01-06:00March 11th, 2017|Categories: Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Even though I can't see them with my eyes as I write this I can imagine Sandhill Cranes waiting for the first rays of the sun to reach the marshes where they spent the night.

American White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, Swainson’s Hawks – Spring Migrants On The Wing

By |2021-03-02T13:56:20-07:00February 19th, 2017|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Box Elder County, Sandhill Cranes, Swainson's Hawks, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

We still have our winter birds and the spring migrants have begun their journey north so my bird photography is likely to pick up and get exciting soon if the clouds will give me a break.

Dreaming of Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes and White-tailed Prairie Dogs

By |2023-03-13T08:00:26-06:00February 11th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County, White-tailed Prairie Dogs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I'm dreaming of seeing Greater Sage-Grouse, Sandhill Cranes and White-tailed Prairie Dogs as spring warms up the sagebrush steppe.

Birds of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week

By |2023-12-17T05:34:28-07:00October 9th, 2016|Categories: American Avocets, American White Pelicans, Bald Eagles, Barn Owls, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Black-necked Stilts, Box Elder County, Redheads, Rough-legged Hawks, Sandhill Cranes, Tree Swallows, Tundra Swans, Utah, Virginia Rails, Western Grebes, White-faced Ibises|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is National Wildlife Refuge Week and in celebration I wanted to do a pictorial essay that includes some of my images of the Birds of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

New Genus for Sandhill Cranes

By |2022-07-14T06:14:52-06:00July 9th, 2016|Categories: Beaverhead County, Bicknell Bottoms Wildlife Management Area, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Another change that has officially occurred was that Sandhill Cranes were moved from the genus Grus to Antigone.

Pair of Sandhill Cranes Calling in Flight

By |2024-02-27T04:59:28-07:00March 7th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Sandhill Cranes, Utah, Wayne County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I was photographing a pair of cranes foraging on the ground when a pair of Sandhill Cranes calling in flight flew over and I took a series of images of them.

Sandhill Crane And Its Nearly Full-sized Colt

By |2021-07-22T03:33:41-06:00August 9th, 2015|Categories: Birds, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Sandhill Crane colts at Farmington Bay are as tall as their parents and look just like them except for the markings on their head and the color of their bills and eyes.

An Assortment of Birds from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge This Week

By |2024-03-07T05:45:35-07:00July 26th, 2015|Categories: American White Pelicans, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, Mourning Doves, Northern Pintails, Sandhill Cranes, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Yesterday I posted a juvenile Wilson's Phalarope and today I am posting an assortment of others birds I photographed the same day at Bear River NWR.

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