D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • FA L L 2 0 1 6
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SANDHILL
DANCING
T
HEY WERE EVERYWHERE. A thousand tall, red
headed cranes pecking at the grain field with heads
bowed. "Nothing unusual about this gathering," I thought
as a photographer scouting possible photo opportunities.
But then, slight movement in the far field from the main
road caught my eye. Up, up , and away, like from a trampo-
line rose a pair of Sandhills as if they were in their mating
dance. But wait, this was late September, not the mating
season, which occurs in the spring. Before migrating south,
unrelated Sandhill Cranes congregate in the thousands
to forage. Cranes within these survival groups can easily
become anxious within the crowded fields, much like
urbanized America when we require more elbow space.
Before migrating south, unrelated Sandhill Cranes congregate in the thousands to forage.
Photos and Text By
CAROL POLICH
