Who We Share The Bogs With
August 22, 2014 10:39 am Leave your thoughts
This is a recording of the avian dinosaurs we share the bogs with. They are a very regular reminder of the fact that the world we reside in is both ancient and magical.
This call is made by Sandhill Cranes, which have fossil records dating back 10 million years. During this time, these birds have remained structurally unchanged, making them a living fossil. Part of our forest management plan includes protection of their nesting, feeding and habitat sites, which are mainly in wetland and bog areas. As many varieties of the cranes prefer feeding and foraging in open habitats, the cutblocks surrounding their nest sites are often beneficial to them. They are also benefited from the cutblocks by offering a broader view of the surrounding world, decreasing opportunities for predation in the young.
I have had some amazing experiences with the cranes this summer. One of the most incredible was when a pair with a wee baby allowed me to be quite close while I completed a pay plot. They spoke in low calls to one another, almost cooing, very different from these cries which you hear in the video. The wee one was quite precocious, stumbling about and stretching out his already impressive wings. It was an endearing and magical moment that they allowed me.