Last week while visiting the Boise zoo, we stopped to look at a Sarus Crane on
exhibit there. It was just standing in one spot, not doing anything ..until I
began to imitate the bugle call of a Sandhill Crane. Immediately it stretched
its neck to full height, and pointed its bill skyward. Then it briefly tucked
its head under its wing before beginning to walk around in an exaggerated
swagger, periodically doing the extended neck, bill pointing thing. When we
moved to the other side of the exhibit, it crossed the cage and came to within
three feet of us, obviously intensely interested. A short time after we moved
away, it began to trumpet loudly. The call sounded nothing at all like that of
a Sandhill Crane, and it made me wonder why the bird responded so vigorously to
the imitation. I felt kind of badly for getting it so stirred up. It certainly
was an amazing experience.
Darrel & Laura
