Threads and traces: cranes

23 March 2013

Crane songs

Cranes in flight, moving north

I haven't been here in far too long. I was looking forward to catching up with a long newsy description of the annual trip to the Platte River to watch the sandhill cranes in their ancient flyways. It's a healing and life-affirming trip. relaxing and schedule-free.

Nature had a different idea.

Since we began this trip five years ago, we have seen our tiny rural bridge site in sunshine and shadow, in ice and wind..but never in the first moments of a fierce snowstorm bearing down on the region. The cranes noticed it, too. They were nervous and edgy, gazing north and testing the wind.

It is spring for them in their lives without winter. We had to leave early to miss the worst of the storm blasting across the West, but still had one of the best crane shows yet. Life is here, now. That was the message I needed, and it was enough. Happy equinox.

Facing the north

Moving on

Cabin, Nebraska

Lone crane

Yellowlegs, a bit early

Restless circling flight

Testing the wind

Our favorite car, year six of the documentation project

Rising on an early storm wind

Circling upward

Huge flocks, high wind

Close-up of flight

Catching the light

Moving away

Cranes in the Platte at sunrise as the snow moves in.

Cranes rise, snow falls. The camera is fine. This is now it looked this morning.

Visible cold pouring in

Nebraska rest area. Did I ever mention that I love Nebraska?

Nebraska road crew. That is snow piling on their backs.

02 April 2012

Sandhill cranes in the Nebraska Sandhills: 23 March

Cranes in the mists

Friday morning of the crane trip started with a heavy fog over our bridge. It was magic, though the drive there had its white-knuckle moments. As the fog burned off, we started surveying the fields and found the largest flocks we had ever seen, anywhere. As the day progressed, huge flocks broke off and spiraled upward. We were right there for the beginning of the final leg of their migration, north to the Arctic breeding grounds. An amazing day.