Cranes
Cranes are among the oldest living birds on the planet. Fossil records
place cranes in Nebraska more than nine million years ago, long before
there was a Platte River, which by comparison, is a youthful 10,000
years of age. Sandhill cranes have adapted well to the change in
landscapes over time and their populations are healthy and continue to
rise. Cranes are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal materials.
With the abundance of cropland in the Platte River valley, corn makes up
nearly 90 percent of their diet, providing carbohydrates for fat
production. Wet meadows along the river provide invertebrates that make
up the remainder of their diet. Worms and snails provide protein, with
the snail shell being a source of calcium that is essential for egg
development.
» Height: 4 to 5 feet
» Wing Span: 6 to 7 feet
» Weight: Male 12 pounds, Female 9 1/2 pounds.
» Food: Wide variety of plants and animals: snails, crayfish, worms, mice. birds. frogs, snakes, insects, acorns, roots, seeds, fruits, occasionally fish, and very fond of waste grains following the harvesting of corn, wheat, barley. etc.
» Dancing: consists of bowing and jumping, into the air. Functions in courtship, sexual synchronization for mating, and release of aggressive energies.
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