Page 10 - The Islander - November '24

Page 10, The Islander

NortherN Notes

Living With Sandhill Cranes

By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

Sandhill cranes, with They have been around
their long legs, necks, and for a very long time.
distinctive gray plumage, The first known sandhill
are a sight to behold. crane fossil was found
Their striking appearance, in the Macasphalt shell
including the patch of red pit in Florida. It was
skin on their head, sets estimated to be about 2.5
them apart as they stand million years old. They
almost 4 feet tall. You may are not endangered, but
spot them near preserves due to habitat loss, their
and wetlands, in parking populations can be of
lots, or even walking across concern in certain areas.
roads, seemingly oblivious to danger. They often travel in They are attracted to open environment. Sandhill cranes spend most of the daylight
small groups or pairs, sometimes with their young ones areas in urban settings hours in areas where food is most abundant, generally
in tow, adding to their unique charm. such as golf courses, walking several miles a day through dry pastures, fields,
parks in subdivisions and wet meadows, or marshes in search for food, eating as
undeveloped land in commercial areas. they go.
As omnivores, sandhill cranes play a crucial role in People inadvertently put them in harm’s way when
Florida’s ecosystem. Their diet, which includes plants feeding them, thinking they are being kind. It is never a
and small animals like snails, frogs, worms, and grubs, good idea to feed wildlife. In fact, in 2002, the Florida
provides natural biological control for their grazing Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it
areas. This unique pest control service they offer is one illegal to feed sandhill cranes (Florida Fish and Wildlife
of the many reasons we appreciate their presence in our 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 young
cranes. Occasionally, birds 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. Feeding them can disrupt their natural foraging
behavior, making them more susceptible to these dangers.
Two subspecies of sandhill crane live in Florida at Look around and enjoy these beautiful birds interacting
certain times of the year. The Florida sandhill crane (Grus with our Florida environment. Give them space if you
Canadensis pratensis), numbering 4,000 to 5,000, is a encounter them and be mindful of them crossing or
non-migratory year-round breeding resident. They are walking in our roadways. Finally, please do not feed
joined every winter by 25,000 migratory greater sandhill them for the good of the cranes and Florida’s delicate
cranes (Grus Canadensis tabida), the larger of the two ecosystem. For more information, please visit the Florida
subspecies, that winter in Florida but nest in the Great Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website at
Lakes region. www.myfwc.com.
Sandhill cranes mate for life and attract mates using an NPDES tip: Safely use and dispose of pesticides. If all
elaborate dance. These cranes nest during late winter and of the pesticide cannot be properly used, check with your
early spring on mats of vegetation found in shallow water solid waste management authority to find out when and
such as preserves or marshes. Sandhill chicks can leave the where to properly dispose of this type of hazardous waste.
nest as early as eight hours after hatching and can swim if
necessary. In the wild, crane chicks follow their parents
and peck food from their beaks. By the time they are two
to three months old, they are independent and can find food
on their own. They are doting and protective parents. One
bird will watch out for the others while feeding. Juveniles
stay with their parent from 9 to 10 months after hatching.
Before juveniles are old enough to breed, they may travel
and feed in flocks called “bachelor flocks.”