Great Lakes region, USA. March 2026.

Oly E-M1 @ 270mm, f/8, 1/1600s, ISO 250.

Edited in darktable.

Hopefully when things open up a bit more on the river I can find where they’re nesting and get some cool shots of that.

Fun fact: Sandhill cranes are one of the oldest bird species. Some fossils found are 2.5 million years old!

  • Tempus FugitOPEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    Not a bad photo other than the fencing. Thanks for sharing.

    • anon6789English
      2·
      2 days ago

      I was happy enough with it as a reminder of the experience. Very cool birds. I hear they gather in huge flocks, which must be mind-blowing to see.

      I also added a comment about how I find this type of bird the scariest animal I’ve worked with if you didnt see my edit.

      • Tempus FugitOPEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        Ha, you’re not joking. I took this photo last summer and it’s kinda terrifying, lol.

        • anon6789English
          2·
          2 days ago

          They’re spears with a large bird attached! 😆

          • Tempus FugitOPEnglish
            2·
            2 days ago

            I will say. Some of my favorite birding moments are watching them hunt. They look so cool right before they strike.

            • anon6789English
              2·
              2 days ago

              I had always thought they just ate mainly fish too. The ed center lady told me the Sandhill is primarily vegetarian, but cranes and herons will snack on snakes, turtles, mice and other small rodents, and even weasels, ducks, and adult rabbits depending on the bird.