Sandhill Cranes!

Posted on: April 26, 2009 | Sporadic Bird | 2 Comments | Print Article | Rate Post:

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This misty moisty morning,

When cloudy was the weather,

I chanced to watch 300 cranes,

All clothed in feathers.

They began to whoop and holler,

I began to grin,

Welcome home! Happy spring!

And welcome back again!

(Apologies to the original Mother Goose nursery rhyme.)

April 26, 2009 Happy birthday to John James Audubon, born on this day in 1785.

Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report

Sunrise 6:17 am, sunset 9:45 pm, length of day15 hours, 20 minutes; tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 20 seconds longer.

Weather: low 40s, gray skies, misty, calm. Ice finally breaking up on coastal ponds and lakes, most of the town snow has melted, but at least 2 feet remain out of town.

SANDHILL CRANES reported spiraling down from the heavens to the salt marsh at the head of the bay last night. Folks from across the bay could hear them whooping and hollering; maybe the cranes were upset about the remnant ice on the ponds, or just glad to touch down in a rich sedge meadow to feast after a long haul.

It was a thrilling sight early this morning in the gray light. About 300 cranes fed ravenously to the east and west of the thawing salt marsh pond. They were very skittish, quick to take flight from one end to the other. Please respect these tired and hungry birds. Stay outside their very large “personal space” and enjoy them from a safe distance. Don’t bring your dog during this stressful migration period. Rover can run and have fun in so many other places; this is not the place for riling up cranes, geese, ducks, and terns.

Meanwhile, Lowell Point called in with another flock of 52 SANDHILL CRANES feeding in a long line at the low tide along the beach from about 8 to 11 am. Long time locals don’t recall any ever landing here before, just fly-overs. What an exciting way to start the day!

About 10 CANADA GEESE stood on the ice preening as a few GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE joined a small flock of NORTHERN PINTAILS and MALLARDS feeding in the narrow open water of the salt marsh pond.

April 25: female NORTHERN HARRIER hunting along runway, Vs of Sandhills reported high overhead. First 2 ARCTIC TERNS reported by Tasha.

April 24: Light frost overnight; several VARIED THRUSHES singing in and around town.

April 23: 300-350 SURF SCOTERS reported feasting on herring eggs at SMIC boat basin. BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS as well.

April 22: GOSHAWK at Mile 2.5 Nash Road. Male MERLIN reported at Mile 1.5 attacking a PINE GROSBEAK.

April 21: RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET male singing valiantly over the wailing wind. Two BONAPARTE GULLS reported at airport. Pair of HARRIERS hunting at airport late in the evening, the male such a beauty with its silvery white plumage and black wing tips. A dozen RAVENS swirled in a loose circle, croaking and calling, exchanging the day’s news in the aerial assembly before stroking to the mountains to roost in the twilight. A WILSON’S SNIPE, silhouetted against the darkening sky, flew up next to my car on the way home, a ball with a long bill.

Time to get the hummingbird feeders out and thoroughly washed. Make your own “nectar” by adding 1 cup white granulated sugar to 4 cups boiling water. Cool before filling and store extra in a clean glass jar in refrigerator. Do not add red food coloring as it may cause tumors. Be sure to change it out before it gets cloudy or grows bacteria.

Happy Birding!

Carol Griswold

Sporadic Bird Report reporter

Seward, Alaska

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