THE WHOOPING CRANE GALLERY
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THE CANADA-TEXAS WHOOPING CRANE FLOCK ( THE ONLY WILD FLOCK IN THE WORLD) NUMBERS BETWEEN 150-200 BIRDS. FROM MID NOVEMBER TO THE END OF MARCH THE FLOCK WINTERS IN THE ARANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESERVE NEAR ROCKPORT TEXAS. THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN ON 24 FEBRUARY 2010 IN TEXAS.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE.
THE OLD COUPLE
WHOOPING CRANES LIVE FOR ABOUT 25- 35 YEARS. THEY MATE FOR LIFE. THIS PAIR IS THE OLDEST COUPLE IN THE FLOCK AND ARE ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 31 YEARS OLD. NOTE THE GREAT BLUE HERON FLYING BY IN THE 5TH & 6TH PICTURE IN THIS SET.
THE FEEDING PAIR
BLUE CRABS ARE A PRIMARY FOOD FOR WHOOPERS IN THE WINTER. ENLARGE THE 2ND & 3RD PICTURES IN THIS SET AND NOTE THE BLUE CRAB IN THEIR BILLS.
THE FAMILY
CHICKS ARE BORN IN EARLY SUMMER IN CANADA. FOR CAMOFLAGE THEIR FEATHERS ARE BROWN AS CHICKS. BY NOVEMBER THEY ARE ABLE TO MIGRATE TO TEXAS WITH THEIR PARENTS. IN TEXAS THE CHICKS LEARN HOW TO FORAGE FOR FOOD AND HOW TO AVOID PREDATORS. ENLARGE THE 2ND & 3RD PICTURE IN THIS SET AND NOTE THE BROWNISH HEAD OF THE YEARLING BIRD ( CRANE ON THE RIGHT IN EACH PICTURE) WITH IT'S ADULT PARENTS.
WILD KINGDOM
THIS MATED PAIR WITH A YEARLING CHICK MOVES LAZILY TO THE EAST SIDE OF THIS MARSHY POND. BUT THE EAST SIDE IS THE PROPERTY OF A FEARLESS RACOON. THE RACOON CHARGES FORWARD WITH IT'S TAIL IN THE AIR ( ENLARGE THE 2ND PICTURE IN THIS SET ). THE WHOOPERS MOVE RAPIDLY BACK ACROSS TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE POND. ALTHOUGH THE RACOON IS NOT A PREDITOR, THE YEARLING CHICK LEARNS A LESSON IN ESCAPE AND EVASION.