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Description
Say hello to the cutest thing ever. This is a baby sandhill crane, in particular the Florida subspecies that is non-migratory (Grus canadensis pratensis). I am so lucky to live in a state that has cranes year-round.

Sandhills mate for life. They usually lay 2 eggs per brood, and will sometimes spend 10 months raising their babies. The babies follow their parents closely, but if they get really excited about something (or fall behind) they take off running at full speed, arms a-flapping and legs all over the place. I saw one baby do a face plant yesterday.

I have been watching two parents and two colts (why do people call baby cranes "colts"? ) that moved into a field on campus that is complete with a horse and a barn. Next to a multimillion dollar cancer center. They're behind a fairly substantial chain-link fence, so they're hard to get photos of.

More photos of these cranes:

Description
Say hello to the cutest thing ever. This is a baby sandhill crane, in particular the Florida subspecies that is non-migratory (Grus canadensis pratensis). I am so lucky to live in a state that has cranes year-round.

Sandhills mate for life. They usually lay 2 eggs per brood, and will sometimes spend 10 months raising their babies. The babies follow their parents closely, but if they get really excited about something (or fall behind) they take off running at full speed, arms a-flapping and legs all over the place. I saw one baby do a face plant yesterday.

I have been watching two parents and two colts (why do people call baby cranes "colts"? ) that moved into a field on campus that is complete with a horse and a barn. Next to a multimillion dollar cancer center. They're behind a fairly substantial chain-link fence, so they're hard to get photos of.

More photos of these cranes: