Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

For the last two days a pair of Sandhill Cranes have been in the field south of the house. Minnesota has just created a hunting season on them. The DNR claims cranes are as wary as turkeys and as delicious to eat as filet mignon - great hunting. Personally, I wouldn't call anyone who shoots a Sandhill Crane a "hunter". If these cranes are in the area you know it - they are big and have a call like a bugle. Being big, it takes awhile for them to get up & flying - easy targets. I drove in and out of my home in full view of these birds and Indy was barking madly at them from my deck - they didn't seem to care. So much for being wary. Growing up, I never saw these birds. They had to be reintroduced to the area. So making a hunting season for them seems odd. What next? A hunting season on doves - the symbol of peace? (Already have one.) A hunting season on cuddly otters? (Yes, have that one too.) A hunting season on kitty cats? (Almost, but the state legislature rejected it.)