The short ‘barking’ call is well known to us from the winter roosting flock.
We attribute that to the young of the year. I believe this is well known as a
call by the young to their adult parents.
Steve Gast
Houston TX
On Jul 9, 2020, at 10:13 AM, bertf@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
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> 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 for Windows 10
From: Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:37 PM
To: brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx; 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 ;
--
Brush Freeman
Utley & Cedar Park, Texas
--
Brush Freeman
Utley & Cedar Park, Texas
