Like most freshwater ponds in Florida, ours has its share of alligators. That was one of the reasons that I was concerned about where the cranes had built their nest this time. As I sat on the bank with my camera one evening a few days before hatching time, I saw a small ‘gator surface several yards from the nest. At that time, the female was on the nest and the male was on the bank feeding. When he saw the movement of the ‘gator, he rushed down the bank and into the water flapping his wings and making the most awful racket. It worked. The ‘gator swam away.
Sandhill Cranes (continued): The pair of Sandhills began building their nest about the middle of February. They chose an area about about 20 feet from shore on a small sand bar. On February 26 one egg was in the nest and on February 28, the second egg was laid. The male and female took turns setting on the nest until the one egg was hatched on March 28. The second egg did not hatch.
After scaring the alligator away, the cranes stood a few feet from the nest looking in both directions for about 10 minutes. Then the female went and set back down on the nest but very much alert. The male stayed at attention for about an hour.
The next page of pictures shows the new crane from the first day of hatching.