Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) flying from the field where it was feeding back to its roost site on Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area near Simpson, Saskatchewan, Canada. Each fall, Sandhill Cranes migrate through central Saskatchewan and stage on the Last Mountain Lake NWA for several weeks, building energy reserves for their migration south. They can number in the 10's of thousands depending on the conditions that year and when they fly over you in huge flocks, the call of these birds can be truly haunting!
The white shafts on the primary feathers indicate that these are likely "Greater" Sandhill Cranes which nest further south in the boreal region of Canada as opposed to the "Lesser" which nests on the tundra region. This would explain their earlier arrival because of the shorter distance they have to migrate to get to the lake area in central Saskatchewan.
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31 August, 2012.
Slide # GWB_20120831_6138.CR2
Tags: Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Birds Cranes Gruidae SACR Saskatchewan AVIAN EXCELLENCE BirdPerfect
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Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) flying from their roost site on Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area out to feed in harvested grain fields in the surrounding area.
Last Mountain Lake, located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, was established as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary by Sir John A. MacDonald in 1887 and is the oldest bird sanctuary in North America.
[Press "L" or left click to view on black]
31 August, 2012.
Slide # GWB_20120831_6129.CR2
Tags: Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Birds Gruidae Last Mountain Lake SACR Saskatchewan
© All Rights Reserved
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) flying from its roost site on Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area out to harvested grain fields in the surrounding area to feed.
Last Mountain Lake, located in central Saskatchewan, Canada, was established as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary by Sir John A. MacDonald in 1887 and is the oldest bird sanctuary in North America.
[Press "L" or left click to view on black]
31 August, 2012.
Slide # GWB_20120831_6116.CR2
Tags: Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Birds Gruidae Last Mountain Lake SACR Saskatchewan
© All Rights Reserved
Greater Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) leaving the water side roost to feed in the grain fields surrounding Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area east of Simpson, Saskatchewan, Canada.
[Press "L" or left click to view on black]
31 August, 2012.
Slide # GWB_20120831_6212.CR2
Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.
© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - all rights reserved
Tags: Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Birds Gruidae Last Mountain Lake NWA SACR Saskatchewan
© All Rights Reserved
Greater Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) leaving the water side roost to feed in the grain fields surrounding Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area east of Simpson, Saskatchewan, Canada.
[Press "L" or left click to view on black]
31 August, 2012.
Slide # GWB_20120831_6168.CR2
Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.
© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - all rights reserved
Tags: Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Birds Gruidae Last Mountain Lake NWA SACR Saskatchewan
© All Rights Reserved