Justin,
Here are the original notes from the observer on why he thought it was a
juvenile at Round Top:
“I think it is a juvenile because our Birds of Texas book shows the adult and
juvenile sand hill crane. The adult is shown as much lighter in color than the
juvenile. The bird makes a very weird sound when beginning flight (it can fly,
does not seem injured, although it flies close to the ground). Not exactly a
whooping, more like a staccato barking.”
Bert
From: Justin Bosler <justin.bosler@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 8:51 PM
To: Bert Frenz <bertf@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Brush Freeman <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>; bobby schat <bobbyschat@xxxxxxxxx>;
Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3) <Fred.Collins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; 4 Texbirds
Maillist <Texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [texbirds] Re: Sandhills
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 <mailto: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
<mailto:Bert2@xxxxxxxxxxx> Bert2@xxxxxxxxxxx
<http://www.bafrenz.com/> www.bafrenz.com
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On
Behalf Of Brush Freeman
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 1:07 PM
To: bobby schat <bobbyschat@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:bobbyschat@xxxxxxxxx> >
Cc: Fred.Collins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Fred.Collins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ;
Texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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
<mailto: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) <mailto:Fred.Collins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:37 PM
To: brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx> ;
texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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
<http://www.pct3.com> www.pct3.com
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On
Behalf Of Brush Freeman
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:16 PM
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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
