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Cranes in pink

 

 

… had perfect conditions on Sunday with rather feeble northerly winds.  From Finland tens of thousands of birds arrived; near the coast the migrants were visible in the clear blue sky already before 8 o’clock. The migration of thousands of cranes and their calls is a powerful view. The morning migrants may have their first stop after a couple of hundred kilometres of travel, or even 500 kilometres away.

 

The crane flocks that stop on a migration pause may stay to feed here up to some weeks. In early morning they fly to the feeding grounds and in the evening back to their peaceful overnight areas. In locations familiar to bird fans and photographers thousands of birds can be seen; the Saunja bay, Silma protection area and Rannajõe and Põgari-Sassi village in Matsalu are fascinating areas .

 

It is easy to recognize the juveniles of this year in a crane flock feeding on the ground – their head plumage is still brown. The long-lived cranes have raised one to two young during the summer breeding season. These in turn start a ”play-acting” breeding only in early spring in their third year – actually they are looking for a suitable area or are engaged in occupying a territory. They are not ready to breed until 4-5 years old.

 

Look at bird observations in the last few days: LINK

 

Foraging flock of cranes