Migrating birds

[Cap'n Jack]

The birds are migrating again- be careful out there!

These flocks ranged from an estimeted 1000 feet to higher altitudes- there were thousands of them flying by!

I don't think I've ever seen so may before! They went from one horizon to the other and these pictures don't do the numbers justice.

I know I'd hate to be in the same sky as these.

 

[Geico266]

They are thick.

 

[Dan Thomas]

They are thick.

Nope. They're geese.

Dan

 

[wabower]

Pretty raggedy formation work. FAAST seminar needed?

 

[jason]

Nope. They're geese.

Dan

Actually, they may be Sandhill Cranes. It's hard to tell from that distance. You can normally tell by the sound and whether or not the legs dangle behind them when they fly.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Actually, they may be Sandhill Cranes. It's hard to tell from that distance. You can normally tell by the sound and whether or not the legs dangle behind them when they fly.

Hard to see on these pictures, but at least some of the birds in the "low flights" were white with black wingtips. No legs out back like cranes; I think they were arctic geese. There were probably sandhill cranes in the mix; I just didn't see them in my small sample.

What sort of sound do cranes make? They were making noise, but it was fairly continuous noise.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Our vultures came back this weekend!
Same week as the last two years - as marked on my calendar!
(we like 'em)

 

[Snaggletooth]

Where the heck did they winter this year? Sure not down here in South Texas.
The Goose Hunting Sucked this year. lol

 

[Geico266]

Nope. They're geese.

Dan

Acutally, they are gooses!

 

[Geico266]

Hard to see on these pictures, but at least some of the birds in the "low flights" were white with black wingtips. No legs out back like cranes; I think they were arctic geese. There were probably sandhill cranes in the mix; I just didn't see them in my small sample.

What sort of sound do cranes make? They were making noise, but it was fairly continuous noise.

Immature & mature Snow geese (gooses ) They are the most plenteful this time of year.

http://www.nebraskaweatherphotos.org/snow-geese.html

The Sandhills cranes make a "coo coo coo" sound and fly further west near Grand Island on the Platte River. They are really something to see at dusk when they head to the shallow waters to roost. The anual migration is one of the largest in the world, and attracts birders from all over the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAqcpMEoLa0

http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/guides/migration/sandhill.asp
video clips at the bottom of the page

 

[Geico266]

Pretty raggedy formation work. FAAST seminar needed?

Do you know why one side of the formation is longer than the other?

 

[tonycondon]

Do you know why one side of the formation is longer than the other?

because there are more birds in it! badumching. i love that joke.

 

[nddons]

What sort of sound do cranes make? They were making noise, but it was fairly continuous noise.

I can't describe it, except to say that they sound downright prehistoric. I'm fully expecting to see a T-Rex crash through the tree line when the sandhill cranes are around.

 

[jason]

Hard to see on these pictures, but at least some of the birds in the "low flights" were white with black wingtips. No legs out back like cranes; I think they were arctic geese. There were probably sandhill cranes in the mix; I just didn't see them in my small sample.

What sort of sound do cranes make? They were making noise, but it was fairly continuous noise.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Jason- thanks much- I didn't hear any of the sounds in the clips you posted.

Immature & mature Snow geese (gooses ) They are the most plenteful this time of year.

http://www.nebraskaweatherphotos.org/snow-geese.html

The Sandhills cranes make a "coo coo coo" sound and fly further west near Grand Island on the Platte River. They are really something to see at dusk when they head to the shallow waters to roost. The anual migration is one of the largest in the world, and attracts birders from all over the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAqcpMEoLa0

http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/guides/migration/sandhill.asp
video clips at the bottom of the page

I think the "nebraskaweatherphotos.org" link shows what I saw...the attached picture shows a part of one of the pictures I posted and they look like snow geese...clicking on the photo lets you see the wing colors.