Christy Yuncker Photo Journal
The nesting season for Sandhill Cranes is short in Fairbanks.
- Roy and Millie return at the end of April (usually April 22-30 but once May 4) when the pond is still frozen and snowpatches persist in the bogs and marshes (see photo below).
- The first week is devoted to inspection of nest sites around the home pond as well as short walkabouts (less than 1 km) into the surrounding taiga (see bottom Google picture).
- Incubation usually begins on May 4 and the eggs hatch 31 days later.
- For 13 weeks, both parents are occupied with care and education of the colts. In many years, nightime temperatures dip beow freezing in late August.
- In most years, the family leaves for migration in the first few days of September.
Google views of the core nest territory and the surounding valley are shown below. North is at the top in these aerial Google views.
Core nest pond and territory
The pond was formed when the ice lens under a pingo collapsed. It is surrounded by black and white spruce underlain by permafrost.
Below is a photo of the pond and nest territory on May 11, still ice-covered. The view from the north shore, looking due south.
Incubation has started.
The favored space for dancing is "Bog-Central", beyond the woodpile in the right center of the photo.
June 11, 2000.Below is a similar photo of the pond and nest territory on June 11, a week after the colts have usually hatched.
Much of the marsh bordering the pond is sphagnum/sedge/grass/cattail that is squishy underfoot. Bog Central is covered with low-bush cranberry and therefore more stable - the best ground for dancing, running, and preflight run-flap training and coaching.
Aerial (Google) view of the nest pond. North is at the top of the picture.
Goldstream valley surrounding the nest site pond
Other crane pairs nest in the cross-valley ponds and up the valley to the northeast.
• March 2011
JUST PUBLISHED
Sandhill
Crane
Display Dictionary
• October 2010
Crane pheromones?