Hubby and I took a walk one afternoon during our time in Homer along the Beluga Slough Trail – an easy trail that meanders a mile or so through a salt marsh formed by the fresh water of Beluga Lake mixing with the salt water of Kachemak Bay. We went because we heard that Sandhill Cranes were nesting there, and they were…
…and because we heard that they had chicks, and they did!
We didn’t even see this couple’s little one at first, because it wasn’t much taller than the grass. The parents saw him though. They kept a close eye on the chick, and like the Mama moose, were clearly protective of it.
One thing that took us by surprise was the coloring of these cranes. Unlike the ones we had seen when visiting Florida, which were mostly greyish (like the one below)…
…these birds were sporting a cinnamon-toned attire.
It turns out that Sandhill Cranes rub soil on their feathers as part of their preening process, and since the soil in this area was rich in iron, their feathers took on a rusty appearance. Pretty cool, eh?
Hey, here’s a thought – maybe I should travel to a different part of the country and see what color the cranes are there…all in the name of research, of course!
Backyard Bird Nerd 
The iron must be particularly sticky in that part of the world, or the cranes must be very serious about rubbing that soil! The colour really looks natural and not at all as if it was “applied” like make-up! This definitely is one new thing I learned today, and I am looking forward to your research expedition’s results!
They look amazing.
They are beautiful no matter what their color!
Our cranes are more the color of the ones you saw in Alaska. Though throughout the year they change some. Look at the FACE of that little colt! Come on up (or over or down) to Michigan and we’ll go to the park to see our cranes and feed the birds. You’d LOVE it!
That would be fun!