A Day With The Cranes (Photo Essay)

Last weekend we decided to visit the lovely cranes. It'd been a while since we'd seen them and it's nearing the end of their season.

It was a hot day - hotter than I'd prefer, but they do have water coolers out so we can all stay hydrated.

The facility is all mismashed now since they are adding an African bird exhibit, so five of the cranes (Blue, Wattled, Black-necked and Demoiselle Cranes) are off exhibit. There's actually price reductions due to this, but since we are members it doesn't affect us. We still get in free. :D

They know us over there since we are there fairly often. The one woman stopped to talk to us and told us that this weekend (the 27th) was the member day. Crap! I thought. We had plans in Madison today, but member day is one day a year and the ONLY day we get into Crane City. Crane City is SEVEN buildings that house 100 cranes. These are off limits to the visitors and only open once a year - to members ONLY.

Well, we will be visiting them today, and I'm doing this essay in celebration of our tour of Crane City. Oh, don't worry, I'm armed with a brand new 2GB media card which can hold over 600 shots. I'm good to go!

I was a bit upset with a lot of the photos from this visit. While they are nice, they also have the bars in the way. Not really what I look for in a good shot. :(

When you first enter the crane area this is the first thing you see. A welcoming shady bench.


To the right is the path to the education center, the art gallery and library. There's also some wildflowers there.

On one of the wildflowers was this tiny inch worm.

On to the cranes!

I believe these are the Brolga cranes with the male in the front.


I can't recall what species this one is. Possibly the Siberian Crane.


This is the Sarus Crane. He's the tallest of all the cranes and stands nearly 6 feet tall. He was very photogenic this time around.



We left him to head to the Whooping cranes.

We met this friendly fella near the Whooping Cranes.


Unfortunately there was a tour group there and while the bird were super close to the edge I couldn't butt ahead and snap shots of them. By the time they moved on the birds had moved several feet back.

I only got two shots of them and they are not the best.

This one is playing with some wood.

Walking into the reeds.


I checked back on my buddy the Sarus crane and he was busy keeping up appearances.


The the Grey Crowned crane. I really want just ONE shot of this fella without the bars in the way. :(

I was trying to distract him with one hand while I aimed through the bars on macro mode. Well, this is him inches from checking out what that camera is LOL

A bit miffed.


A calmer crane. :)


I believe this is the Eurasian Crane. He's a cute fella. Curious, too.


Peeking out through the bars.


Peek a boo.


A nice profile shot.


Looking all sweet.


The next essay (published maybe tomorrow) will detail our walk on the wetland trail and fun in the gallery and education center. :)

A feather found while on the trail.

I'm so excited to get into crane city! I presume that there's no bars there (probably glass or plexiglass) and they are closer to the visitors than outside. :) We'll be riding around in golf carts to crane city, too, LOL.

**All photos taken with a Canon Powershot A560 camera No Editing Done**