Sandhill Crane Nest Hatches!

We now have 2 new Sandhill Cranes in Helena! The nest I've been watching on the north edge of Helena since April 20th produced the young - called colts - on about May 20. When I first saw them on that date, they looked to be a day or two old. Apparently, the adults keep the young in the nest for several days after hatching. Actually, I had been seeing only one adult in the the area so was curious as to the where-a-bouts of the other adult, but it showed up a day or so later and now they are raising the young together.


It will be interesting now to follow the rearing of these young. The area surrounding the nesting site seems to be rather limiting for the rearing of young. An Interstate Highway borders one side, housing and other development another, and the open fields to the north don't look especially like good crane rearing habitat. And, it will be quite a few weeks until the colts can fly. Time will tell whether or not this was really a very good site for crane nesting, but it has certainly been interesting following the events!