Likely they would like some canned sardines and corn carefully cut from the cob.
Are they year around where you are? Or have they migrated already?

Oh my gosh! It really does look like they are arriving for a tour of your house. Did they ring the doorbell? What fun. Do they stick around and wait for food or do they flap away when you come out? They look like they are sticking around!

I don't know what they eat but they sure are cute!

Linda, they are here year round. Corn is a good idea.

Pam, They normally only have one baby but this family had two so that was neat. I saw them walking up so I grabbed some bread and went out to throw it to them. They took some out of my hand and hung around for awhile.

I know that they can be a pest and they will peck at your door if you don't give them food but I am a pushover when it comes to animals. In fact I got stopped last week by the sheriff because I had pulled off the road to rescue a large turtle trying to make it across the road. Sheriff said "don't do that, it's dangerous!". Too bad sheriff.

LB wasn't impressed at all; she snoozed through the visit.

Love it! Give 'em anything they want.

Just wanted to say, I'm glad my cat isn't the only doofus sleeper. Your kitty is cute!

Murphy (actually, the little fella's (LF) cat)

That's so charming! I would probably be buying bags of food for when they knocked on the door!

Are the two without the red on their heads the younger ones? I'd have to feed them to....and sit and watch them and not get anything else done....

I'd give them chicken

Yes, the red heads are the adults.

I hope they return, I'll have some corn (not chicken EJ-LOL) for them. I had a family visit the backyard last year, I guess I didn't feed them well enough as they didn't return. Or maybe these are the same parents with their new babies--that's a thought.

Murphy is sooo cute. I love the kitties.

When they stop along the Platte River in Nebraska on their way north, they land by the thousands and thousands in picked corn fields....and seemingly find some pickin's in the stubble.
So I would guess cracked or shelled corn strewn on your lawn...or walk, would make them happy.

That is just so wonderful. Enjoy

Uhh, do they poop like Canada geese? Those can really make a mess of a yard in no time.

I can't remember the difference between cranes and storkes.

Is that Astro Turf you have? The lawn is so perfect. LOL!

dcarch

Lucky you! Sandhill cranes are soo cool! I see them almost daily around here, but I am sure they'll be heading south soon.

Linda

LindaC, here we only see a family at a time. I would probably look at it differently if they were in large flocks. I guess that's why they are so special to me because of the small numbers.

BB, Didn't think of that; I haven't seen poop but having been in NH when the geese come to town for a week, I do know what you mean!

DC, Thanks. No Astro turf, just very high maintenance St. Augustine.

Linda, I never thought of our cranes possibly being your cranes too.

Very cool!

We have blue herons nesting in our marsh but they're about 200-300' away not walking up to our front door! They're also very spooky birds. Hard to get a picture much less eating from our hands.

Are they migratory?

/tricia

Mustangs, that looks like a lovely street (and quiet), are you on great terms with your neighbors...meaning you feel confident none would turn you in - it's illegal to feed them in your state, you might want to opt for the backyard if not sure.

That's a friendly tip, not a criticism. You posted in a public place and I thought you might not know.

Hey Morz8, No worries, I appreciate you looking out for me. It is a lovely street with great neighbors. I am aware that it's illegal to feed them but I'll take my chances just with like moving the turtle crossing the street. I will tell you that feeding them is the worst thing that I do--well, except for putting ketchup on my hot dog LOL!

Tricia, They are migratory and as LindaC and Ducanoe mentioned there are many thousands in their area. I guess we just get a few; most winter in TX, NM, and North FL.

Great photo! I lovvve cranes!

I like them too. We had some nest on the back of the farm several years ago, they completely demolished a sweet corn patch. We gave up the corn for the fun of watching the little birds hatch and grow.

it's my understanding that they are legal to hunt in some states, I guess there are big populations in some spots. I have a friend who calls them "ribeye of the sky". He was amazed that we had such fun watching them.

There are quite a few of them in southern Michigan by Elery's, there's even a winery called "Sandhill Crane Vineyards". We went to Lowe's one day for paint and there were a couple standing right under a tree in the parking lot, just watching people come and go, so I'm thinking they're either curious or not so smart. (grin)

Cathy, I'm glad I'm not the only one who moves turtles. The girls used to call it "turtle patrol". We'd be driving along and I'd pull over and yell "turtle patrol". The girls would bail out and (while watching for traffic) move the turtle. I was told by a DNR officer to always put them on the side of the road in the direction they were heading or they'd just turn around and go right back. I don't know if that's true or not, but we always did/do.

Yeah, Elery thinks I'm nuts, sometimes. Maybe most times.

Annie

Here's a stork, Dcarch. Great red legs and feet.

Annie, I had a restless night recently because Ray did "turtle patrol" (I was driving) and he took the turtle to the wrong side of the highway! I wanted to go back and look for him (the turtle, not Raymond) but he thought I was crazy and wasn't that committed to the turtle's safety.

I'm going to look for "Sandhill Crane Vineyards" along with Dearborn mustard when I get up there.

Islay, Is that your picture? It's beautiful!

I just looked at Islay's picture again... and realized that's a nest! Whoa.

We had a soft shelled turtle in our yard earlier this week. My hubby saw a car stop and the guy got out and picked something up out of the road and put in our yard. The turtle made a run for the shade up near the house and that was when my hubby saw it. He told me to keep an eye on it and he went and got a bucket. He put it in the bucket and took it down to the lake.

The storks are the symbol for Alsace. They make humungous nests - apparently they get bigger every year. They're really quite tame too as they're used to people. They're very beautiful when they fly too.

I hadn't opened this thread because I'm not good at menu planning, but then I thought I could learn something. Boy, was I surprised! How fun. I had no idea cranes ate corn. I figured they ate fish.

Another turtle rescuer here.

I love the kitty pics!

Sally

Annie, regarding 'turtle patrol', I once stopped,
on a busy highway, because there was a big turtle
in the middle of the road. So, I took him to the
side of the road, in which he/she was headed.
When I finally got turned around, and headed in the
direction I was originally headed, the turtle was
in the middle of the road again . . . headed in the
opposite direction. I gave up.

LOL, lbpod. I NEVER give up, although I considered it once as I was "shooing" a large snapping turtle across the road to the hoots and hollers of several motorcycle riders right across the intersection from me. I finally yelled back "you're so tough, come and help me carry him". They just laughed and the turtle went on his merry way at his own speed.

Annie

Those cranes look like they should have little fedoras and briefcases.