The Mysterious Sandhill Crane

My sister’s house in Florida sports a lovely patio surrounded by hibiscus.   A sandhill crane comes to the bird feeder off and on all day long.  You already know this if you’ve seen my recent Instagram photos. This mysterious winged giant, Phrasier, spent hours with me as I, coincidentally, spent afternoons reading a scintillating mystery by Kathleen West. 

I loved Phrasier instantly and found him to be intriguing company. And yet, his presence didn’t jive with 2 irrefutable “facts” we “know” about sandhill cranes. Back home in Indiana, I could not get this darned bird out of my head. His migration and mating behaviors didn’t make a lick of sense. 

I resolved to get to the bottom of why this crazy crane went against all accepted cultural norms of his breed.  I could have reached out to actual ornithologists who work nearby on the IU campus, but I didn’t have that kind of time.  Instead, I used two or more online sources to solve … the mysteries of the lone sandhill.

Research Question 1: MISSED MIGRATION?  What was Phrasier doing hanging out in Florida in late June? Sandhills are phenomenal migrators.  They travel thousands of miles in huge flocks. Husbandman and I have trekked to the Goose Pond staging area to admire their mixing and mingling.  Was Phrasier staying behind on a whim?  Or was he stranded, shunned, kicked to the curb by an unfeeling, inflexible flock? 

Research Question 2:  BACKYARD BACHELOR? Sandhill cranes supposedly mate for life and, unlike many married humans, they share all nesting and child-rearing responsibilities. Why was Phrasier hanging out with old human beings on a patio eating bird seed made for lesser birds when he could be off with a mate living his best life?

I’m sad to report that while I came up with no conclusive answers to my research questions, I’m definitely getting closer to the truth about the lone sandhill, thanks to my deep dive into the crane literature.  Here are the tentative results of my study.

Finding #1:  I’m happy to report that Phrasier is no castoff reject. He is most likely a permanent resident. 5,000 sandhills live in Florida year round.  Born in Florida, they’ll die in Florida. That’s the way they like it.

Finding #2: Phrasier will find true love in time. As with humans, it can take awhile before the sandhills meet their true loves. Many don’t marry until their seventh birthday.  Phrasier's probably young---sowing wild oats, reaping abundant bird seed.

Finding #3: Phrasier and his ex-partner may have called it Splitsville. Between 2 and 7 percent of sandhill marriages end in divorce, which is impressive when compared to the 43% divorce rate of human beings. Crane divorce might result from territory choices gone awry, but some crane couples split due to personality clashes.  Maybe Phrasier destroyed his marriage with his overly confident, devil may care attitude. Maybe his mate questioned his work ethic.  The good news is that divorced cranes remarry, if not this breeding season, then the next.

Finding #4: Phrasier might not be one bird, but two. I texted my sister about this theory and she confirmed that right after I left she figured out that 2 cranes were visiting the feeder, but she forgot to tell me.  She has named the second one Nell.  Why do Phrasier and Nell visit the feeder separately?  Are they sharing nesting responsibilities elsewhere or simply pulling some type of childish prank? Either way, it’s great to know that they seem to be doing fine.

In conclusion, there are many factors to consider when studying the lone sandhill so keep an open mind while you’re doing your research.  We don’t yet have all the answers about Phrasier's way of life, but we do know that this fascinating bird merits future study.