2024 was an eventful season on the Crane Nest Camera. The season started out in mid- April with territorial disputes between Rocky and Athena and another crane pair — likely, the pair that later became known to us as Ariel and Eric. Athena laid one egg on April 15 and a second egg on April 18. We then observed Rocky and Athena as they dutifully took turns incubating the eggs for two weeks. On the night of May 1, a coyote scared Athena off the nest and predated the eggs. Rocky and Athena remained in the territory and showed signs of re-nesting until Athena suddenly disappeared. For several days, we heard Rocky calling for Athena and observed him searching their territory. We do not know for sure what happened to Athena, but a dead crane was found under a power line in the area a few days later. Meanwhile, Rocky showed up on camera with a new female, Adrian. We watched the two of them grow their bond over the next few weeks with much dancing, unison calling, and faux nest building.

The night after Rocky and Athena’s nest was destroyed by the coyote, the camera crew discovered a second crane nest located in the same wetland where Rocky and Athena had been nesting. This nest was in a more sheltered location, was better surrounded by shallow water, and was further away from the camera. This pair, named Ariel and Eric, diligently protected their territory from various predators and from numerous cranes that made incursions into the area. The camera saw a plethora of wildlife where Ariel and Eric were nesting: beavers, muskrats, waterfowl, song birds, raccoons, deer, marmots, and more.

On the morning of May 22, we got our first look at the newly hatched chick, Melody. And the next day after the family had left the nest, we discovered that there actually was a second chick – Harmony. After that, the crane family was observed on camera most mornings foraging in the area near their nest. The chicks grew rapidly and their parents guarded them diligently. Every morning after breakfast, the crane family quickly moved off camera and too soon, we could only catch glimpses of them throughout the day. May they grow strong, fly safe, and  return in the spring!

We hope you enjoyed watching these amazing birds during the nesting season; a time when cranes are typically very secretive. We are grateful to be able to observe these cranes in a manner that does not disturb them, and  hope you have learned about the many challenges that cranes face and how important it is that we protect them and their habitat.

Thank you to our dedicated nest camera production team who operated the nest camera day and night from April 12 – June 1. Thanks also to all of you for watching and for caring about the Yampa Valley Greater Sandhill Cranes. You can review the entire nesting season by going to our Nest Camera Highlights page. Visit our YouTube channel “Colorado Cranes” for more footage from the season and to subscribe for updates.

See you next spring for the 5th season of the Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition Crane Nest Camera!

Learn more about Sandhill Crane nesting by checking out: Nesting FAQs

Watch the 2021 webinar: Everything You Want to Know About Greater Sandhill Crane Nesting