Aside from the Christmas deep freeze and an exceptionally wet January it has so far been a rather typical winter in north Georgia. The coming week looks promising as high temperatures should reach around or above 80 degrees for a few days by midweek, a certain fulfilment of the promise of spring. It is after all that time of year when cool mornings give way to pleasant afternoons and sitting on the patio in the warming sun. Some early spring flowers are already in bloom and even casual observation of the woods reveals a hint of color from sap rising into the young branches. But not all of the activity is at ground level. It's time to look up, way up, for the magnificent Sandhill cranes.
Although year round resident populations of Sandhills continue to increase in Georgia for those who feel the urge it's time for birds in the Southeast to begin their journey. Reports from watchers all over north Georgia confirm that that the great migration is indeed underway. For the next month of so over Atlanta, flocks ranging from a few dozen to as many as several hundred push north and northwest on their journey to summer habitats in the western Great Lakes and central Canada. They are a pleasure to watch with their shapely "v" and wide arc formations as well as their "kettling" in uplifts prior to departure.
In our woodland setting I always hear their distant croaking - "ka-roo, ka-roo, ka-roo" - that leaves me hoping they fly over my clearing. Most of the time they do because they fly high, sometimes into the thousands of feet. At those altitudes it's hard to imagine that you are looking at a bird that may stand four feet tall and soar on a seven foot wing span. Several hundred-thousand will migrate from their wintering ground in Florida and Georgia. Far larger numbers will migrate north from Mexico across the Great Plains for their their summer home in Canada, Coming or going, they always bring a smile to my face and leave me looking up for more.
In our woodland setting I always hear their distant croaking - "ka-roo, ka-roo, ka-roo" - that leaves me hoping they fly over my clearing. Most of the time they do because they fly high, sometimes into the thousands of feet. At those altitudes it's hard to imagine that you are looking at a bird that may stand four feet tall and soar on a seven foot wing span. Several hundred-thousand will migrate from their wintering ground in Florida and Georgia. Far larger numbers will migrate north from Mexico across the Great Plains for their their summer home in Canada, Coming or going, they always bring a smile to my face and leave me looking up for more.
Sources
Phots and illustrations:
bottom photo, ducks.org
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