Page 7 - Abacoa Community News - April '22

Abacoa, Page 7
Northern Notes

Living With Sandhill Cranes an elaborate dance. These
cranes nest during late
By Katie Roundtree, winter and early spring on
Director of Finance and mats of vegetation found
Administration, Northern in shallow water such
Palm Beach County as preserves or marshes.
Improvement District Sandhill chicks can leave
Sandhill cranes are long- the nest as early as eight
legged, long-necked gray, hours after hatching and can
heron-like birds with a patch swim if necessary. Juveniles
of red skin on their head. stay with their parent from 9
They are distinctive looking to 10 months after hatching.
birds standing almost 4-feet- They have been around
tall and can be seen near 4,000 to 5,000, is a nonmigratory year-round breeding for a very long time. The
preserves and wetlands, in parking lots and walking across resident. They are joined every winter by 25,000 migratory first known sandhill crane
roads oblivious to danger. They travel in small groups or greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), the larger of the two fossil was found in the
pairs sometimes with young in tow. subspecies. The greater sandhill crane winters in Florida Macasphalt Shell Pit in
Two subspecies of sandhill crane occur in Florida. but nests in the Great Lakes region. Florida. It was estimated
The Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis), numbering Sandhill cranes mate for life and attract mates using to be about 2.5 million
years old. They are not
endangered but due to loss of habitat, their populations can be
of concern in certain areas. They are attracted to open areas
in urban settings such as golf courses, parks in subdivisions
and undeveloped land in commercial areas.
Sandhill cranes are omnivores, which means that they
eat plants as well as small animals like snails, frogs, worms
and grubs. They provide natural biological control for
their grazing areas as they eat these common pests of turf.
Sandhill cranes have an abundance of natural foods and do
not need handouts from humans.
People inadvertently put them in harm’s way when
feeding them, thinking that they are being kind. It is never
a good idea to feed wildlife. In fact, in 2002, the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) made
it illegal to feed sandhill cranes (Florida Fish and Wildlife
Code 68A-4.00(3). Why was this done? Cranes can become
aggressive when fed by people. When they are used to a
free meal, they will continue to return and demand it when
it is not offered. Cranes returning to a yard where they have
been fed are prone to injury by cars as they cross the street
to get to the yard. They are also more vulnerable to predation
by dogs or cats, especially the young cranes. Occasionally,
birds have been known to cause damage to property as a
territorial defense behavior upon seeing their reflection in
cars or window screens. Pesticides in yards and urban areas
can also be of concern as they forage for food in the ground.
Look around and enjoy these beautiful birds as they interact
within our Florida environment. Many of them can be found in
the preserves and marshes in our area. Give them their space
if you come across them and be mindful of them crossing or
walking in our roadways. Finally, please do not feed them for
the good of the cranes and Florida’s delicate ecosystem. For
more information, please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission website at www.myfwc.com.
NPDES tip: Safely use and dispose of pesticides. If all of the
pesticide cannot be properly used, check with your solid waste
management authority to find out when and where to properly
dispose of this type of hazardous waste.

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