For amateur ornithologists, such as yours truly, winter in Florida is fun. It's migratory season, and I never know what I'm going to see with so many feathered creatures flocking south. It's common to see sandhill cranes here year round. Usually, they're alone or with a mate. In the winter, I've seen as many as 5-6 flying together, which is an impressive sight with their 7-foot wingspan. But, last weekend, as the sun was setting at Myakka State Park,
three dozen sandhill cranes filled the sky as they flapped and honked toward the birdwalk and prairie. What a sight!
It was really exciting because I've never seen so many sandhill cranes flying at once. Plus, quite honestly, until that moment I had never seen much bird life at the birdwalk. As they dipped past the visitors and landed, they announced their arrival:
honk! honk! (They're quite loud.)
After awhile, another dozen arrived followed by several white pelicans with a few roseate spoonbills drafting. (Who knew the spoonbills and white pelicans were on such friendly terms?!) They all peacefully wandered the prairie nibbling on dinner in the beautiful golden sunlight. Remember the
prairie photo I posted earlier this week? All those sandhill cranes and other birds are 'hiding' in the vegetation. It was a very successful birding excursion.
