Landing Gear Down

by Stephen Schwiesow

Title

Landing Gear Down

Artist

Stephen Schwiesow

Medium

Photograph - Color Photography

Description

In March and April each year the Sandhill Cranes arrive in central Nebraska on their annual migration. They stay from a few days to weeks, eat the area corn from the fields, rest up from the first leg of their journey, and often find a mate, and then head off to the northern hinterlands. When they first arrive, there may be only a hundred or so, but each day builds. At their highest count, there may be 400,000 to 500,000 cranes along a stretch of the Platte River in and around Gibbon, Nebraska. As you approach the area along the river, you can hear the squawking sounds grow louder and louder!
We applied for a viewing at Rowe Sanctuary, arrived at about 5:30 am for the morning viewing. We had our coffee, met a few others, viewed a video and heard the background of these wondrous birds on their flight. We headed out before dawn alongside the river to sets of blinds from which to view the gaggle. Entering the blinds, around 30 in each, with movable windows still closed, you could barely hear yourself think as the birds were beginning to wake up. They were standing in the Platte River, thousands in groups. As the sun neared sunrise, the red light in the blind turned green and we were allowed to open the shuttered windows. We were cautioned to be quiet as that might spook the birds and cause many to leave.
On my first trip there, we saw maybe 300,000 cranes in March; on the second trip, there were less than 2,000 in early April, and was such a disappointment. To top it off, after only 20 minutes, someone set off a flash and the birds took flight, circling around the area. Some left, others headed to nearby fields to find corn. None stayed on the river. We left downhearted.

The 2 photos shown here (one of two cranes overhead and this photo) were taken on the first trip. It was not an easy task to get birds isolated from the other birds, and there was constant small groups lifting off amidst the group, while others swarmed in, just coming in for the first time. This group put out their landing gear, looked out for a suitable spot to land, and merged into the swarming mass below.

I hope you like these two photos!

Uploaded

October 22nd, 2020

Statistics

Viewed 86 Times  -  Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/24/2024 at 5:51 PM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags