Over the past two weeks, large flocks of Sandhill Cranes have been making their way through northern Illinois for their spring migration. Most are passing through, but a few will stay to nest.
Sunday and today they were soaring directly over my house! They were "kettling," which means they were riding on warm air currents.
Here's another group from today (3/13/12). Each of these groups, I saw because I heard them from inside the house first! Sandhill Cranes are the oldest avian species with fossile records going back 2.5 million years.
For anyone interested, here's a link to a fascinating audio-essay about hunting cranes by Julie Zickefoose (#17, Episode 19 "Love & Death Among the Cranes"). Here's my closing shot from the patio at dusk on Feb., 28, 2012.
