Was sitting on the deck w/ the dog when three shapes passed overhead. Looked up and it was a pair of sandhill cranes w/ this year's offspring (I assume). They were absolutely silent which is unusual for this species. They settled down at the edge of the hay field almost out of sight. Was curious what Whip would make of the large birds but she just sat watching them. These cranes are oportunistic feeders eating grains, berries, insects, snails, small mammels (guess everything chomps voles), amphibians, reptiles. From the opposite side of the food chain, sand-hill cranes have the nickname 'Rib-eye of the Sky' and, for the short time while the sportsmen of my state were legislating for a season on them, 'Filet Mignon of the Sky'. I question the term 'sportsman' for anyone wanting to shoot them. Coming in for a landing and taking off is a slow process for such large birds plus their rauctious call gives away their location to anyone within a mile.
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