Birds, Birds and Birds -pics-

[BlackCurtains]

It's been raining almost non-stop for days now. Well, storming, actually. Big nasty thunderstorms (that I love). The wildlife has erupted in a frenzy of celebration and I keep missing all the good shots Until today!

So, I have posted about our 'yard birds' before. There are all kinds that hang out here for whatever reason - they seem to love the shade of the pine tree, nearby water and people (us) that don't harass them. The storks were under the tree as usual and the cranes were passing through. Then a storm started and caught them all together.

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In total there were 16 Wood Storks (the white ones), a family of 4 Sandhill Cranes (big ones in the back) and a single Rosette Spoonbill. The cranes are about 5 feet tall, just to give an idea.

After the storm passed, the cranes went on their way and the other birds went fishing in the swale. There was a Blue Heron too.

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Suddenly there was commotion in the water. One of the storks caught a snake. They do eat snakes, but this one was lucky. The storks were so busy fighting each other for it that one of the birds dropped it back in the water and it got away. I did manage to get this shot first-

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Then! I walked around to the front and found a small group of Ibis.

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I also took some video 

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/BlkCurtains/media/Videos/RainyBirds_zps71ae33d2.mp4.html

It is worth noting that the Wood Stork and Sandhill Crane are endangered. People are constantly pulling their cars over to take pictures of them. The cranes wander around the neighborhood, there are three nesting pairs and a lone male. My sister found the loner in the front yard severely injured this morning. She called the Wildlife Center and they came to get him. As of this afternoon they didn't know what had happened to him but doubt he was struck by a car. It's possible he got too close to the other cranes babies, and one of the parents beat him up Hopefully they can help him recover and they said they'll release him back where he was found.

[kaoskat]

They are all so cute! I miss the Florida birds.

[celticowgirl88]

I loooove Spoonbills, so cute!  That thing they are trying to eat almost looks like an eel, ack
A 5 foot tall bird would freak me right out!

[Teddy]

Awww!!! Reminds me of home. ^-^ (Used to live in Florida.)

[Kiwi]

Wow, that would be so neat to see outside!

[Eviecorn]

Awesome photos, especially catching those storks with a snake.  I'd have loved to see this.

[melodys_angel]

Oh man, youre very lucky to be in that kind of area.

Awesome pictures!

[BlackCurtains]

A 5 foot tall bird would freak me right out!

They are huge. I managed to get more pictures of the Cranes today as they came through the yard.

This is either the mom or dad, staring me down like a Velociraptor
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I tried to get something in there for scale, my neighbors A/C unit was the most convenient thing.
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The lighter colored ones are "babies". Obviously, they'll be ready to leave soon. But the adults have the dark brown feathers and bright red heads.
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I'm not sure where the other parent was.

[hathorcat]

Oh wow! That would be so amazing to see. And those cranes are huge!!!

[Vintergatan]

I don't even know what to say to this beauty! I never lived in an area where I could see anything as amazing as this! I think I would have peed myself from happiness if I were there, they are so amazing! thanks so much for sharing

also, poor little guy, I hope he recovers

[SparklersOasis]

I worked in a wildlife clinic for a few years and we had an injured sandhill crane come through the clinic.  Let me tell you, having to pry a 5' bird with a saber on it's face out of a kennel when it's hell bent on taking out one of your eyes instead is quite the experience!  That one ranks right up there with the juvenile bald eagle that wanted to give me a new facial piercing...

[Sea_Breeze]

I agree with MA, your SO lucky to be able to see all that wildlife just out your window. I LOVE spoonbills too

[MiRaja]

It's been raining here constantly as well.  Obnoxious really, though it drove in some decent business early on in shift because a lot of people didn't want to risk the beachside fireworks getting rained out.  You're not on the gulfcoast, are you?  ;

[Teddy]

And just a little random fact: The adults have brown feathers because they have "painted" themselves with mud for breeding season. Adult Sandhill Cranes are actually a light gray color all over (like the younger ones). It's usually just the breeding pairs that paint themselves brown.

I find cranes fascinating. And Sandhills aren't the only species who paint themselves for breeding season. Siberian Cranes do it as well. I'm a huge crane lover and have worked with every species of crane in the world. So I'm a little partial to them. Cranes rock!! ^-^

[Noepse]

Wow, that would be so neat to see outside!

^^^
Great pictures!
I am such a bird-nerd if you can call it that.