Egrets, Herons and Cranes

Egrets are herons that have white or buff plumage, developing fine 

plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a 

biologically distinct group from herons and have the same build.

Yes, it can be confusing.  This is an Egret that I photographed

at the pond where we live in CA.   On your marks...

Get Set...

GOOOO!!!

The distinction between a an egret and a Heron  is rather vague, and depends more 

on appearance than biology. The word "egret" comes from the French 

word aigrette that means both "silver heron" and "brush", referring to the long,

 filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egret's back during

 the breeding season.

I've always had a special fascination with Sandhill Cranes,

and Don & I have enjoyed them in Alaska, Florida, New Mexico

AZ and the NWT of Canada  These were flying over our

home in Superstition Views AZ early one morning in 2020 as I was

taking my walk.  You know what they say about the "early bird"...

(Click on any photo for a larger view.)

These magnificent birds stand from 2' 7" up to 4'3" , with wingspans up to 6 feet.

 They have a history dating back to the Pleistocene Epoch, 

nearly 2 million years ago.  Sandhill Cranes can fly up to 50 miles per hour depending on 

wind speed and direction.  They circle skyward on rising columns of 

warm air (thermals) to help them gain altitudes of up to 12,000 feet. 

 Generally, however, they migrate at altitudes of less than 5,000 feet.

  Averaging 25-35 mph, cranes typically travel 200-300 miles in a day,

 but can reach 500 miles with a good tail wind!!!  

About 25,000 of them arrive annually in early November at Whitewater Draw 

near  McNeal AZ at their winter migration area.  They were featured in my

Nov 18, 2020 blog.  

In July 2009, Don and I headed for Yellowknife in the NWT

of Canada to celebrate my 70th birthday.  I chose this special location

because I wanted to experience a place where the summer sun

never set for many months and just made a lazy circles in

the sky.   So we loaded the 5th wheel and North. 

On the way we stopped at Basque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

near San Antonio NM to visit Sandhill Cranes where we took many

photos of these beautiful birds and while in the visitor center

I had an opportunity to hug one!!!

As we traveled up the MacKenzie Hwy on the way to our destination Yellowknife

I spotted these two Cranes.  Look closely...

Obviously this has nothing to do with Cranes, but was an irresistible

photo op for this photographer... the row flags that lead to the parliament

buildings of the NWT of Canada

No cranes here either, but with 24 hours of daylight for weeks

on end everyone had a fabulous colorful garden.  A gardener's

paradise for sure.

Sandhill Cranes are obviously one of my favorite birds so I

stylized one of my photos and created this stained glass window

with some help from a friend of mine in AZ... Thank you Linda Lou.

He's traveled from AZ to CA with us and occupies a 

place of distinction in our dining room.