Those Red-Headed Birds!

One of the things I love about visiting Florida is getting to see the Sandhill Cranes.  They are beautiful and graceful birds.  The Florida Sandhills are on the endangered list, with roughly 5,000 remaining.  It is protected, and if killed, carries a very high monetary penalty.  According to Wikipedia (my source for much of this information), the current outlook for this crane is good, if it can be maintained on the protected habitats.

These birds raise one brood a year, with both members building the nest using plant material from the surrounding areas.  The nests sites are usually in marshes or bogs, although they occasionally nest on dry land.  There anywhere from 1 to 3 eggs that are oval-shaped and brown with reddish markings.  Both parents participate in the incubation which lasts 29 to 32 days.  The chicks usually reach independence at 9 or 10 months old.  They remain with their parents until 1 or 2 months before the next brood of eggs is laid.  

The average weight of the male is about 10 lbs., while the female is just under 9 lbs. 

Their call is a loud, trumpeting noise that can be heard from a long distance.  Mated pairs engage in unison calling", standing close together in a synchronized and complex duet.  The female makes 2 calls for every one of the male. 

Their wingspan is 5.4 - 6.9 ft..  The use thermals to obtain lift and can stay aloft for many hours, requiring only occasional flapping of their wings and expending little energy. 

In flight, their long legs trail behind and the long neck is kept straight. 

Linking to World Bird Wednesday.