• Thursday-What'sUP October 27 - 07:59 pm

The arrival of the Sandhill Crane is always a sure sign of Spring, so the departure then, is obviously a sure sign of Fall coming to an end. Frederic W. Koski captured this one taking a rest on its travels as it heads to Georgia and then Florida in order to escape the cold temperatures. Fred also was fortunate enough to snap a Great Blue Heron taking off on its way to warmer climates. Before you know it the exodus of U.P. people that head south for the winter will be underway too. Makes you wonder if the Sandhill Cranes are considered "snowbirds", like the Yoopers who leave for the snowy months. :->

Great pictures!

Very good shots of these participants in wildlife.

Great shots of these magnificent participants of the wild.

Outstanding pics Fred. I do believe that this is the first time that I have ever seen a crane in flight.

Great shots today!I think Fred could get a job with National Geographic.

Very good morning friends in there far away!!!

Freedom -- this bird under remind us .. we are freedom!

Having to hold your legs,feet,and toes straight outlike that for extended periods of time I would think would be uncomfortable.

Rowdy, Like standing on one leg, with the other leg bent, is anymore comfortable?

I watched a great white heron flying at my level from behind and the neck hangs down in a very narrow line helping keep on course like a forward rudder. I think the legs are in about the same relationship with the body in flight as they are when standing in the water which would ease the muscle fatigue.

Grrrrreat shots! Thankyou Mr. Koski for sharing them with us.

If they head South for the snowy months, are they really Yoopers? Especially since, as we all know, the Yoop has eight months of winter and four of bad sledding.

One of the great things about living in New Mexico for 3 years was I lived close to the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge near Socorro. Every fall, there was a huge mass fly-in of the migratory birds from the north. By January, it was nothing to see thousands of birds of all kinds, cranes included. It made for many rolls of film being shot, not to mention many car washes after visting ;-)

It's funny that birds have a brain the size of a pea and even they head south for the winter. What does that say for us diehard Yoopers? Great pictures though.

Bessemerbj,
Must be a bunch of wimps, huh? ;) Great photos.

Thanks "Pasty" for showing my pics today, and thanks for the nice comments. Sometimes you get lucky walking the woods.

My dad had a sandhill for several years who flew with one leg hanging down - would return every spring - very migratory - near Battle Creek in the Lower P.

I was very fortunate Thurs. morning to see the ultra light airplanes leading the young Whooper Cranes on their flight south as they flew along the Illinois River. It was a thrilling sight. I wish Mr. Koski could have been there to photograph them! You can check their progress on www.operationmigration.org.