Sandhill Cranes

It’s the crack of dawn. About 8:00 am, which is pretty early for me. I look outside the window of my house and see what appears to be some peculiar looking birds. Funny enough, the windchime featured in this photo looks very similar to birds roaming on the lawn.

I know Florida is home to numerous types of wildlife. However, I was unaware that I would be seeing these types of birds in my backyard since coming from Pennsylvania. I knew they had to be some sort of crane with their long legs and long necks. So when I was looking them up on the internet, I typed in my location, Groveland, Florida, followed by the word cranes. I found them to be identified as Florida’s Sandhill cranes. I find that these majestic creatures are a threatened species.

I rarely see these birds throughout the day as they aren’t fond of people. It was interesting to come across these birds, especially in my backyard. As they are threatened species, I thought it was rewarding to see them. Sometimes it’s important to appreciate rare sightings and experiences as we may never witness them again. Especially during this pandemic, I appreciated this early morning treat.

Emily Pellegrino