WELCOME TO THE WORLD LITTLE ONE! 

During uncertain times, nature brings hope.

By Kerry Burkhart

 

On Tuesday, March 24, 2020—a quiet, cool and somewhat foggy early morning—in the midst of a recently announced global pandemic and a world filled with panic and uncertainty, nature graced our community with the gift of new life and hope in the shape of a tiny newborn Florida Sandhill Crane!

 

A resident crane pair was discovered earlier in the month nesting on the pond behind the Oak Harbor Clubhouse. They had been sharing the incubation duties of their two-egg clutch—twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week—for about a month. Their tireless efforts led to the welcoming of an adorable precocial chick, already well-developed and adorned in fuzzy golden down with its eyes wide open. It is hard to believe that such a tiny newborn could already be capable of swimming, and within hours, able to walk and even run, albeit somewhat clumsily, as it travels from the nest with its parents.

 

Did you know that in the state of Florida, wildlife researchers and biologists refer to young Sandhill Cranes as colts, but depending upon the region of the country, they may also be called chicks?

 

Early on that Tuesday morning, while the humans in the community still lay asleep, word of a new born Sandhill Crane Colt spread quickly among the resident wildlife because once mom stood up on the nest and the tiny colt popped its head up from underneath her, a variety of local birds appeared, which are not usually observed near the nesting area at that hour.  It was almost as if they flew in purposefully to congratulate the parents and welcome the little crane to the neighborhood.

 

Not long after, word about the new crane family spread throughout the human community as well.  Resident nature lovers and those feeling confined by the pandemic flocked to the nesting area to witness the good news for themselves and see the event, which was still unfolding as there remained one egg in the nest that was still being incubated by the parents.

 

Concerned about the effect the increased activity to the nest area might have on the cranes, local residents at Mayfair House, who had a birds-eye-view of the nest and had been watching over the nesting pair all along, joined together with Grand Harbor Audubon members to create a buffer around the nest territory in an effort to keep the cranes from becoming stressed by the many excited visitors that would surely be arriving, and the planned utility work recently slated to begin.

 

Employing technology and ‘social distancing’ orders to organize and communicate information, each person did what they could to help.  Signs were posted to create a nest buffer zone and raise awareness about distance and noise levels.  Utility companies, who were about to break ground on new projects near the nest, and landscapers that maintain the area were contacted and agreed to cease all scheduled work.  To alert drivers, the community 'Sandhill Crane Crossing' signage, currently standing along the road where the cranes nested in prior years, was removed and installed along the road near the new nest. Community-based conservation in action!

 

Our community may have been physically distancing to do our part during this time of COVID-19, but at the same time, nature through the beauty of the cranes connected and brought us together in many other ways.

 

The next day, as the morning fog burned off and the sun and temperature began to rise, the adorable, tiny fuzz ball, now two days old, popped its head up from the warmth of mama’s back feathers to have a look around. It then ducked its head back under allowing you to follow its path, by the way it ruffled mother’s feathers, as it wiggled its way down off her back and tumbled out from under her wing, landing face down on the padded nest beside her.I’m not sure there is a more delightful scene!

 

Flat on the ground, but not defeated, the colt pushed itself up and on to its feet heading forward to see its mother. It did not get far before, splat, it fell again! While colts are equipped to walk just after birth, it does not mean they do so gracefully. So, as the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed…” and with another attempt, success! 

 

Mom, still incubating one egg, turned her head to check on the little fuzzy one who was creating quite a stir beside her. Leaning back over her shoulder she touched the colt gently, a few times, with the tip of her bill. The colt continued to move closer, and for a moment the two locked eyes.  The little one, finally reaching the front of mom, sat and faced her as they engaged in another steady hold of eye contact. It appeared they were bonding!

 

It was not long before the little crane got back up on its feet and wobbled its way farther around mom to get closer to dad, who was now offering up the tiniest morsel to its young colt who quickly grabbed it with its tiny bill. Did you know that while both crane parents feed their young, the male usually feeds them first?

 

Hungry colts make a request for food by “bill-touching” with the parents, but I did not see the colt beg much this morning as dad was very attentive! Using his long black bill, he continued to probe more of the muddy ground around the nest and even, at times, scratched with his foot, to unearth food items. Each time he found an appropriate food source he offered it up to his fuzzy offspring. Cranes are omnivores and feed on plant and animal foods, as well as seeds, fleshy tubers of plants, grubs, earthworms, snails, amphibians, small reptiles and small rodents.  

 

Dad soon returned to the nest mound with the little one, who was already in need of rest and warmth again after just a short period of feeding. The young one quickly cuddled in close alongside mom while she sat still incubating the egg. Young colts are not able to regulate their body temperatures when they are first born so they huddle under a sitting parent’s wing for heat and protection. The female usually does the brooding, but sometimes this task is carried out by the male. Without the parents’ brooding behavior, the baby might not survive.

 

Suddenly, dad extended his head and sharp bill into the nest. As he drew his head out, he had secured in his beak the egg shell that just yesterday, the beautiful new colt now resting at mom’s side, hatched out from. Dad carried the shell off to the deeper water in the pond. There, he dunked it several times and waved it back and forth through the water before returning it to the nest. Rinsing of the hatched shell eliminates any odor it may harbor that could possibly attract predators to the nest. Pieces of the shell are typically offered to the colt and/or may be eaten by mom to replenish her calcium levels. Otherwise, it will be carried away from the nest and discarded. This behavior is not unusual but is a rare occurrence that one is able to observe. Imagine the thrill!

 

Back at the nest—now well past the 24-hour mark from when the first egg hatched and when usually a second egg, if it was going to hatch, would have done so—mom stood up. You could see the olive-white colored egg sitting perfectly beneath her long black legs. Looking down at the egg, she began to ever-so-gently roll it with her bill. Every so often, she added a light touch with her foot to help turn it before sitting down over it again. Such incubation behavior is performed to help ensure proper embryo development. Cranes also make a purring sound to the egg(s).

 

Almost noon now, mom stood up once more. This time not to roll the egg, but to join dad who was off feeding their little colt again. The new family walked about together, each parent digging their sharp bill deep into the wet mud and presenting items for the colt to feed on. The parents took turns feeding and protecting their young one. While one was feeding, the other looked up to survey the nest area for any potential danger. If a visiting bird got too close to the family or the nest, the crane, who stands 3-4 feet tall, would spread its wings, almost seven feet wide, and charge the intruder, who always flew off. All the while, the other parent remained focused on feeding the baby and caring for the egg at the nest. The entire time, the pair never wandered too far from the nest, and before long, one of the adults returned to continue the incubation duties.

 

Cranes are very territorial during breeding season and the pair are often seen defending the area where they are raising, or plan to raise, their offspring. Interestingly, often when I visited the area, one of the cranes would be away from the nest pecking at its reflection in the windows of the nearby clubhouse, as its reflection surely posed a threat of another bird!

 

Frequently, a very curious Great Blue Heron visited the nest area, as did a prancing Snowy Egret and even a regal, Great Egret. All were confronted and chased away. An Anhinga, who chose to sit on a rock across the pond, which fell within the confines of the nest zone, was also confronted and left the area!

 

At times, one of the cranes could be observed holding a "crouch" position--the bird lowers very slowly, almost all the way down, and holds this position. It looks as if it is nesting. In fact, this stance is the ultimate threat position by which most nesting wildlife fiercely defend their babies.  At the time, a nearby dog was barking, but aside from that I could not locate the threat. Interesting, the cranes appeared to know when a dog was approaching the area, well before I ever noticed.

 

Sandhill Cranes do not have many enemies. However, predators to the nest include raccoons, fish crows, river otters, red-tail hawks, great-horned owls, eagles, American alligators and unleashed pets.

 

At times, Sandhill Cranes may appear to be acclimated to humans; however, they are wild animals. For your safety and the safety of the cranes, always maintain a good distance as these majestic birds have a rapier-like bill and three long toes with claws as strong and sharp as an eagle.

 

Later that evening, one observer informed me that the Sandhill Crane family left the nest area with their young colt sometime in the afternoon and did not return. Meanwhile, the incubating egg sat unattended all that time. I returned just before sunset to find the family back on the nest mound. This is normal behavior as Sandhill Crane pairs will continue to use the nest mound as a roosting area while the colt is still quite small.

 

Did some disturbance or activity within the nest zone—approximately 150 ft. around the nest—disturb the family and they flushed? Maybe.

 

Sandhill Cranes usually lay two eggs, sometimes one and rarely three. The second egg usually will hatch within 24 hours of the first and it was well past that time. So, in this case, it is more likely that the new parents instinctively knew by early that afternoon that the egg was not viable and turned their attention to their two-day old colt, who was now more than capable of leaving the nest.  

 

Causes of nest failure for Sandhill cranes include predation, flooding, egg infertility and addling, abandonment and even flushing, which is caused by any continuous human activity or disturbances 150-400 ft. around the nest that stress the birds and cause them to leave the area for 15 min to 4-5 hours before returning. During this time the egg(s) are left unattended and exposed to the heat of the hot sun or may become vulnerable to predators.

 

One of the adults at the mound that evening moved toward the egg and began to roll it with its bill then lowered down to sit on it. Likely, the instinct to manipulate the egg kicked in, as cranes will continue to incubate an addled or infertile egg. However, it was obvious now, that the egg was not going to hatch.

 

The unhatched egg sat out in front of the family. All three, at different times, seemed to give the egg a light nudge with their bill; perhaps, as one last bit of hope or maybe as a show of respect and to say goodbye.

 

As I looked on, daylight faded and the last rays from the warm amber setting sun shined so beautifully over the nest area and upon the crane family. The deep orange-gold of the adults’ eyes, the rusty bronze in their feathers, and the cinnamon-orange fuzz of the little one were all aglow! Life is so fragile. And nature, while beautiful, is sometimes bittersweet. During times like this, one has to trust that Mother Nature and/or a higher power knows best. The thought brought comfort.

 

Just before I peddled off, dad stepped off to the side of the mound, as usual, to take his place as protector for the night, giving mom space to lower her long legs and sit. Once mom was down, the little colt, who appeared to be anxiously awaiting this moment, climbed quickly up under its mother’s wings to settle in to the warmth of her feathers and get some well-earned rest.

 

As I rode my bike home that evening, so many thoughts went through my mind, such as what the pair might be feeling. I thought about all the time and energy they invested in building their nest and incubating and protecting their eggs—even how beautifully Sandhill Cranes share in all the responsibility that comes with courtship, nesting, colt rearing, feather maintenance, flight, and protecting their colt and each other. I thought about how cranes play together and express happiness by jumping, turning and bowing to each other. Even, how they express the need for space by ruffling their feathers, flapping their wings or showing their bald red patch on the top their head to keep others away.

 

I also remembered from past experiences with cranes just how resilient, brave and focused they can be. Regardless of the challenge, they adapt and move forward together. We share many things in common with these cranes but also, if we pay close attention, they can teach us so much about life, love and family.

 

My last thought was of the tiny little colt, probably fast asleep by now, who will wake up tomorrow, and little does it know, will now have the complete attention of both parents as it grows, each providing the colt with the best chance of surviving to fledging. This thought made me happy, and with that, hope returned.

 

Corona, the name that was affectionately given to the young sandhill by a member of the local community, was now leaving the nest early each morning with its parents to forage. If you arrived at the nest later than 7:15 a.m. in hopes of seeing the family, you would be disappointed, as they had already set off for the day. It seemed that the pair had a rapidly growing crane and a lot to teach it. In return, the young crane had a lot to learn, so they had a tight schedule to keep!

 

Recently hatched Sandhill Cranes colts follow their parents while they forage, often up to one quarter of a mile from the nest. By one and half months of age, young colts typically travel up to one third of a mile from the nest site with its parents.  

 

That said, the distances traveled by our resident crane family increased each day. And, while the weather had been mostly sunny and dry since the colt was born, it was hot, and now the afternoons started to bring heavy rain and flooding. Taking action, the parents constructed an accessory nest, a mound away from the original nest, where young Corona could safely rest during the day and brood.

 

Where is an ark when you need one? By the family’s third week together, the foraging distance increased, and the afternoon storms became more frequent. One early evening, when the three returned to the nest area to safely roost, they found their “home” flooded. 

 

Racing against daylight, the crane pair worked together, quickly and methodically plucking grass and any available vegetation and tossing it on the nest. Unable to build up the nest and with darkness approaching, the family chose to abandon the area. 

 

Together, the family rapidly moved through the high water, which was chest high on little Corona. When they reached dry land, they quickly walked in search of a safer and more suitable area to roost. Little Corona could be seen running the entire way trying to keep up with the parents. Finally, the family found shelter across the way.  

 

Sandhill Crane colts spend a lot of time foraging with their parents, all the while learning the necessary vocalizations and behaviors, they will need to be successful as adult cranes.  And, all the while, they are growing!

  

Speaking of growing…  Over the next few days and weeks, it was as if the adult pair was sprinkling “Miracle Grow” on the worms and insects they were feeding to Corona because each time I saw the colt, he was taller!  Did you know that Sandhill crane colts can grow up to an inch a day on some days, or five feet in three months?  It is amazing how fast they grow! 

 

For the next several months, as Corona crane grows, the young colt will follow his parents further and further each week from the nest. Most journeys will include crossing quiet residential roadways and golf courses, but some will include as they have already, crossing over busy Indian River Boulevard.

 

For almost three months, Corona will be flightless, and the young crane will have to walk across the roadways. To better protect Corona, the parents will remain earthbound and together they will slowly and purposefully cross busy roadways as a family. 

 

Twice a day until early June, the cranes may feed along the side of the boulevard and residential roadways and even cross them while foraging together. Normally, most cranes feed at the edges of the roadways during or just after heavy rain, as they take advantage of all the available worms rain brings to the road surfaces. This is the most vulnerable time for the family. 

 

There are less than 5,000 Sandhill Cranes left in the state of Florida. The Florida Sandhill Crane is listed as a state-designated "threatened" species. Breeding populations of cranes are disappearing from coastal Texas, Alabama and Louisiana as the cranes lose their habitat, yet, we still have a pair that choose to nest in our community each year. What a gift! The cranes bring hope and are a beautiful reminder, especially in times like these, of the interconnectedness of all living things.

 

Look to the skies in early June, as I trust the cranes will have moved past their most vulnerable time, and will be flying high, together, as a family. I trust, too, that the world will have made it past this most uncertain time and be better because of it. 

 

And, on that day in June, when we see the cranes fly over—for so many reasons, what a beautiful gift it will be!