Posted by JohnJ.D. z7a NJ on April 19, 2012, 14:54:12
I happen to come across this potentially breeding pair of Sandhill cranes locally near Port Elizabeth yesterday afternoon. Very unusual for the area. There is a breeding resident colony out to the west that has taken in a few escaped stray European Cranes and have actually breed with them, but these appear to be strait Sandhill.
Wow John that is awesome! I think they look pretty cool, I will keep an eye out for them now. I love it when unusual stuff is around, I remember years ago at Forsythe Bird Preserve I saw a pair of Snowy Owls who had come there to make a nest. Pretty unusual but not unheard of, we went back the following week and there were people with 2 foot lenses taking pictures of them.
Re: A local pair of Sandhill Cranes! With Photos...
Joe, I have been lucky enough to have seen two Snowy owls in my life, both here in NJ. I also saw a Gyrfalcon one time during a snow storm when I was younger. I will never forget that. We even had a White pelican hanging around Matts Landing at one time. There have been quite a few unusual birds showing up so far this year. A few species of Hummingbirds too.
Re: A local pair of Sandhill Cranes! With Photos...
Its really awesome to see something unique and unusual. I bet if more people were looking in more places, some things might be less unusual lol But I have nice binoculars and I want to see some more.
Re: A local pair of Sandhill Cranes! With Photos...
That's realy cool about the Sandhill Cranes. I've read about a few being in the South NJ area - maybe they will breed there, as you suggest? Keep us posted!
Re: A local pair of Sandhill Cranes! With Photos...
That's great to see. At first though I thought for sure this was going to be in south Jersey. Even more impressive to the North there. Maybe they'll "remember" and come back again next year too.
Port Elizabeth is actually extreme southeastern New Jersey, just northwest of the Cape May penninsula.
Ahhhh, OK - I know a few locations down there but not all...
Posted by Terry 6b/7a on April 29, 2012, 23:56:20, in reply to "Terry..."
Elizabeth in north Jersey is highly urban, but there are wetlands up there too along the Hudson and the water quality has improved some. While waterfowl are quite present, Sandhill Cranes would REALLY be something up there. lol But very glad we have them somewhere in our State. Maybe I'll be down that away again.
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