We interrupt our regular program of California native plants (and critters) with a few photos of -- Sandhill Cranes. Mr. Mouse and I visited Mr. Mouse's Mother and her husband in Florida over the Memorial Day weekend. This is the first time we saw their delightful manufactured home, which has a view of an artificial lake where waterbirds visit.
This spring, two Sandhill cranes built a nest right outside the living room window, so Mr. Mouse's Mother and her husband could observe the egg laying, hatching, and feeding. She did a wonderful write-up of the whole story, with great pictures. The cranes had two young, which she called Sandy and Fraser Crane. Sandy ended up ill and may or may not have been rescued, but Fraser made it. Of course, we were disappointed that all this had happened before we arrived -- until all three came by for a visit. You can see Fraser, who hatched April 10, is almost the size of the other cranes, but the coloring isn't there yet.
Later, we took a drive through the community, and met another crane family with 2 kids. We were lucky to get a few pictures of them as well, and sorry to leave so soon.
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Don't you just love those rusty bustles?