Sky-High Amazement: Top 9 Fun Facts About Cranes You Never Knew

1. The Screaming Sandhills

Move over heavy metal rock concerts, there's a new screamer in town that’s sure to crane their neck on the loudness scale: Sandhill Cranes can belt out bugle calls over 100 decibels, making them one of the loudest birds in North America and audible from over a mile away.
Source => howitsee.com

2. Dancing Crane Courtships

Dancing with the (Sandhill) Stars: amid dazzling courtship performances worthy of a reality TV show, sandhill cranes show off their 7-foot wingspans, choreograph their way into each other's hearts, and belt out duets in perfect harmony.
Source => birdsandblooms.com

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3. Cranes in Asian Mythology

When cranes aren't busy lifting heavy objects or inspiring dance moves, they're often moonlighting as wise old philosophers and legendarily faithful soul escorts: In Asia, these gracious birds symbolized wisdom and fidelity, believed to be messengers of sages and to carry souls to the Western Paradise, while Indian mythology painted them as symbols of treachery and malice.
Source => markbutz.com

4. Corn Waste Clean-Up Crew

Whoever said one man's trash is another's treasure clearly never met Nebraska's party-loving sandhill cranes: During their stopover in the central Platte River valley, these clever birds gobble up to 1,600 tons of leftover corn waste, benefitting both themselves and the local farmers.
Source => outdoornebraska.gov

5. The Crane's Peculiar Pantry

If a sandhill crane went grocery shopping, it'd leave with a cart full of plants, insects, fish, and rodents - sounds like one peculiar pantry! However, feeding these wild birds dinner leftovers is a no-go: Cranes require a variety of grasses and plants for a healthy diet, and relying on humans can disrupt their way of life and negatively impact their wellbeing.
Source => knowmorestuff.com

6. Feathered Phoenix Comeback

In a tale of "Feathered Phoenix" proportions: Sandhill cranes, once teetering on the brink of extinction due to overzealous hunting in the early 1900s, have made an astonishing comeback with their populations now soaring over 945,000, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts and successful captive breeding programs!
Source => projectupland.com

7. Ballet and Fencing Birds

When cranes aren't busy building skyscrapers, they're cultivating their own version of ballet and fencing: Cranes are highly social birds that communicate through elaborate body language displays, using their unique physical features for both courtship and maintaining personal space within social groups.
Source => christyyuncker.com

8. Beak-le Kung-Fu Masters

If you ever find yourself in a "beak"-le with a crane, just remember: they've got quite the toolbox! These avian agents are equipped with serrated bills for probing frozen soil and wielding as weapons, while their sharp-clawed feet are perfect for both scratching dirt to find food and delivering a swift kick to any challengers. Wings at the ready, they maintain balance and spring into action, making them the true kung-fu masters of the bird world: Cranes possess razor-sharp beaks and claws, using them as tools for both foraging and fending off threats, employing their wings for balance while effectively striking with powerful foot action.
Source => rowe.audubon.org

9. Brooding Bodyguard Parents

When cranes play "mommy and daddy" mode, they turn into brooding bodyguards, all for a good night's sleep with their little nuggets: During breeding season, cranes sleep close to their nests to protect their eggs and chicks from any unwanted threats, while in the non-breeding season, they cozy up in flocks at traditional sites, often tucking their heads and necks under their shoulders, keeping an eye out for predators – who said parenting was all fun and games?
Source => animals.mom.com