Justin these are both adult birds and obviously not juveniles...As Rich has
stated, this is a heavily birded area, large area, had they been here
previously they would have no doubt been reported earlier....I would tend
to give more credence to naturally occurring pair on or near the Texas
coastal plains as a result of post breeding dispersal than I would any
single bird especially if found up on the plains and playas of NW Texas
Just my thoughts on it. But keeping an open mind. BTW captive-raised
birds are tagged and or banded and frankly, I am not sure just how
frequently SACRs are kept in captivity down here....
On Wed, Jul 8, 2020 at 8:51 PM Justin Bosler <justin.bosler@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Bert, Brush, and Texbirds:
How do we know it was a juvenile versus an adult in its rusty-brownish
"painted" plumage? Most populations of Sandhill Cranes are known to
preen dirt/mud into their feathers for camouflage during the summer months
when they can no longer rely on safety in numbers. I suspect it was a
mis-identified summering 2nd-year/adult but photos would help to confirm
one way or the other.
As for the Granger Lake "pair", I would suspect that they never left in
February-March (or were released by a private collector(?) or a rehabber
recently). In addition to the records provided by Bert, there are summer
records in the South Plains from June and July. Ill or injured cranes do a
great job of hiding/ concealing themselves until they are healthy and
flight capable. They can go undetected for months.
For example, I surveyed this same playa regularly in spring and summer of
2017 and did not discover this adult until late July:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S38332561
Good birding,
Justin Bosler
Midland, Texas
On Wed, Jul 8, 2020 at 8:22 PM <bertf@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Brush,
While your sighing is indeed early, it is not unprecedented. A juvenile
Sandhill Crane was reported 16 July 2004 in Round Top, Fayette County. The
bird had been present already around 8 July and was still present 23 July.
I wrote to you at the time, but I do not know if you had a chance to visit
the place.
Another Sandhill Crane was at Richland Creek W.M.A. Freestone on 16 Jul
2009 (Tim Fennell).
Bert Frenz
Oaks & Prairies of Texas
eBird reviewer, Central Prairie of Texas
eBird reviewer, Belize
NAB subregional editor, Central Oaks & Prairies of Texas
Bert2@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.bafrenz.com
*From:* texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> *On
Behalf Of *Brush Freeman
*Sent:* Wednesday, July 8, 2020 1:07 PM
*To:* bobby schat <bobbyschat@xxxxxxxxx>
*Cc:* Fred.Collins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [texbirds] Re: Sandhills
I guess I am being a bit lazy here as I could research it but it is just
easier to ask. Where is the westernmost known general breeding location on
the coastal plain? Is this pair considered to be the result of a
post-breeding dispersal? To be a bit more precise on the location of
these, a couple of miles south of Granger Lk. in Williamson Co. and south
of Hwy 1331 near CR 418. Thank you.
On Wed, Jul 8, 2020 at 9:41 AM bobby schat <bobbyschat@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Really cool to see this kind of longitudinal movement in SHCR, I have
done some work on Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR near Gautier Miss. Which
is about 600 road miles east, a lot of those birds where banded, I could
not see any bands on the cranes. This is not say there not from Miss. ,
some did get jewelry. The population in Florida are not band as well.
There has always been the question when the resident pop. would get crowded
and birds start to move around in some type of longitudinal migration.
Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
Windows 10
*From: *Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3) <Fred.Collins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent: *Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:37 PM
*To: *brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx; texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<Texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject: *[texbirds] Re: Sandhills
Most surprising. Eubanks et al shows early date of Oct 13 for the UTC. I
wonder if these are resident non migratory birds wandering in from the east?
*Fred Collins*
Director, Kleb Woods Nature Preserve
20303 Draper Road
Tomball, Texas 77377
*Commissioner Steve Radack*
Precinct 3, Harris County
www.pct3.com
*From:* texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> *On
Behalf Of *Brush Freeman
*Sent:* Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:16 PM
*To:* texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [texbirds] Sandhills
A pair found near Granger Lk. this AM feeding in newly disc'ed wheat
field July 7. Thoughts for those of you not on social media.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S71234172
<https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS71234172&data=02%7C01%7Cfred.collins%40pct3.hctx.net%7Cde883b5d814f4bb3fd1308d822b2b35f%7C0d9bc79c581b4477acf78d70dd3e555a%7C0%7C0%7C637297498193937661&sdata=6nzwjpeWIg1hJyBG4gMh14HYw5GXG%2BO94fdRUHlKp9o%3D&reserved=0>
--
Brush Freeman
Utley & Cedar Park, Texas
--
Brush Freeman
Utley & Cedar Park, Texas
