Update! After the female's release, I didn't see either crane for almost a month. Then, a couple of weeks ago, she showed up, looking emaciated and frightened. Her foot was still swollen and she seemed to favor it a little. The male was nowhere to be seen. Well, this morning they came in for a noisy landing in my front yard. I rushed their breakfast out to them. They both crowded up to me and I was able to get a good look at the female's feet. The swelling had gone down and the toe didn't shrivel and drop off as predicted. With the exception of a light-colered scar, the injured foot looked just like the other one. She had gained weight and was as sassy as ever! After breakfast, they both kept me company all day while I repaired my outboard motor out in the yard. My family is back together! Praise the Lord!

I see flocks of these every spring and fall but have never attempted to take pictures of them. Not that I wouldn't like to but I usually see them on a busy road. Out in the pumpkin fields. You captured some very good shots.

Oh wow whass........what a great shot! They never seem to land around here (central Indiana), but they fly over every spring and fall. They stop over in northern Indiana by the thousands in October. How cool for you that they stopped by your house!

Pat I know exactly how you feel about Juncos - I always feel sad when they leave but the arrival of House Wrens compensates! In the same way, I feel blue when Fall comes (the landscape looks so desolate) but always cheer up when I see the Juncos. They make everything seem alright with the world! A few are still around but seeing the warming trend, they might take off soon. They have been putting away millet and peanut butter suet. Spring is certainly the best part of the year - at 5am yesterday there were hundreds of birds singing in the neighborhood! If only it would last :-) Shyamala