Sandhill Cranes at the Cosumnes River
Preserve, California
Sandhill cranes at the Cosumnes River Preserve,
with the Sierra Nevada in the backgground.
They usually arrive in October flying in huge
flocks at high altitudes.
Cosumnes River Preserve
juveniles in flight
Juvenile dancing
Juvenile in the middle
taking a drink of water
A golden corn seed in the beak
male dispute
deeply stained sandhill crane
more dispute
probing for food
Sandhill
cranes are monogamous. Their courtship is impressive dancing or
leaping high up while flapping their wings. Sometimes they
would throw grass, sticks or rocks into the air.
The place where we saw these cranes was a perfect
"stage" for their performance.
