Sandhill Crane Nest Camera
Greater Sandhill Cranes will return to the same general area every year to nest and typically build a nest in the same or similar spot. Nests are simple, mound-like platforms made of marsh plants, grasses and weeds piled on the ground in marshes or wet meadows. Sandhill Cranes in Colorado usually lay two eggs in late April or early May and incubate these eggs for about 30 days. Both crane parents will help in incubating the eggs and caring for the young once they hatch. When the eggs hatch, Sandhill Crane chicks are able to see, are covered in down feathers, and are able to walk within a few hours. After about a day, the chicks will leave the nest with their parents.
Learn more about Sandhill Crane nesting by checking out our Nesting FAQs! Watch our 2021 webinar: Everything You Want to Know About Greater Sandhill Crane Nesting.
Watch the Nest Camera Highlights to see all the excitement in short video clips!
The Crane Nest
In 2021, we watched Sandhill Crane pair, Rocky and Athena, successfully hatch one egg. In 2022, Rocky and Athena returned to their nesting area but nested just beyond the range of the Nest Camera. So in 2022, we watched a different Sandhill Crane pair, Fred and Wilma, successfully hatch one egg and raise that chick for several weeks.
This year, both pairs have returned within sight of the Nest Camera. While the cranes waited for the snow to melt, we observed both pairs close to the camera- foraging and battling over their territories. We watched Rocky and Athena roost near the camera on numerous nights in April.
This year, we are focused on Rocky and Athena. Athena laid the first egg in the nest on April 23rd. We believe a second egg was laid a few days later.
We expect the eggs to start hatching about May 23rd (cranes have a 30 day incubation period).
Warning: This is a wild Sandhill Crane nest and anything can happen. While we hope the nest is successful and both eggs hatch, many things can happen to prevent this, including the eggs being infertile, predation of the eggs, chicks or adults, and natural disasters.
Disclaimer: We are livestreaming a wild bird nest and may experience technical problems. We cannot control problems related to mother nature, disrupted signals, etc. If you can’t play the video, try refreshing the webpage. Visit our Nest Camera Highlights page to see the best moments from this nest.
The live video feed was made possible through grants provided by the Yampa Valley Community Foundation and the WHILD fund. Internet access for live streaming is provided by Zirkel Wireless. Camera installation and setup were completed by Photon Syndicate. Updated equipment was possible because of generous individual donors. Thank you also to CCCC staff and volunteers for their tech support. Thank you to all our wonderful viewers without which this camera would not exist.
Barb Hughes says
Very interesting morning activity from 5:15 a.m. to 5:25 a.m. this morning.
Barb Hughes says
At 5 a.m. this morning Athena stands up and then settles back down. Great view of Cinnamon and Sage jostling for best position under Mom’s wings. It’s amazing that her feathers don’t get ruined. They must be more durable than they appear.
Karen Whitney says
We have posted a highlight video of this footage called “Climbing Into Mom’s Feathers”. Thanks for calling it to our attention!
Susan M. says
Great camera work panning the area for several minutes then zeroing in on our family at approximately 19:04! Fabulous!
Barry Kaplan says
6.03.23, 18:39
Crane family moving through the meadow, hopefully on their way to a roosting spot for tonight in view or maybe even the nest? Sage and Cinnamon, growing up to an inch a day, are getting so tall! Meanwhile, a tree top Kestrel to see as well.
Nancy Merrill says
The chicks are growing fast and roaming with their parents all over their territory. We are able to spot them on camera in the evening when they roost and early morning as they wake up and begin to forage. We will continue to follow them for a few more days. Check out the highlight videos featuring this first week of life for Cinnamon and Sage.
Susan M says
I love waking up and checking in on our family of 4 and finding them safe and happy!
Joey Chadwick says
05/30/2023, at 23:57 a cow was mooing. Then around 23:58:30 to 23:59:30 cranes were talking in the distance, then Rocky and Athena were talking loudly also. Chicks awake and peeking out. At 23:59:37 Rocky comes from left of screen and walks past Athena on the nest to go check out all the noise. More cranes talking in the distance from 5/31/23 at 00:00 to 00:01 – listening on, a cow bellows again. Mom on alert. One baby leaves nest and walks around and comes back. Did not see Rocky come back.
Nancy Merrill says
No lingering around the nest this morning (Monday)! At 6:20:05 the family is up and by 6:22:30 they head south for breakfast. Be sure to check out the highlight videos from yesterday.
Joey Chadwick says
19:56:30 to around 19:58:30 – great laughs! Mom has nestled down on the babies but they peak out and one falls off her back and mom finally stands up – Cinnamon and Sage and wide awake and don’t want to go to bed yet! Typical kids!!!! Right????
Joey Chadwick says
7:06:40 Athena stands up and the day begins – so fun watching the four of them start their day.
Joey Chadwick says
Actually, 7:06:40 to 7:36 (when they leave the nest for the day), it looks like they are having breakfast in bed – as both Rocky & Athena peck for food at the nest and so do Cinnamon and Sage. So 30 minutes at the nest before leaving for the day.
Nancy Merrill says
After a lovely wake-up time at the nest this morning, our crane family moved off to forage. The two chicks look bigger already. As the camera searched for the crane family, a bachelor flock of 7 cranes came into view in a nearby field. Cranes that are too young to breed will form these bachelor flocks and hang out together – just like teenagers.
Karen Whitney says
After our beautiful crane family leaves the nest at 7:36 this morning, our esteemed camera operator finds a nice bachelor flock of Sandhill Cranes at 7:43, including some cool dance moves!
Nancy Merrill says
This evening (5/27) at around 19:30 while searching for the cranes, the camera spotted a herd of seven elk. This is the first time we have seen elk on the Nest Camera. Hopefully, the elk will steer clear of the cranes!
Nancy Merrill says
This morning while searching for Rocky and Athena and babies (after viewing them for a wonderful couple of hours in their nesting area) the camera discovered Wilma and Fred not far from where they nested last year. We have been hearing another pair calling throughout this nesting time, but we have been unable to see them on camera until now. It doesn’t appear that Wilma and Fred nested this year, or if did, they were not successful. It will be interesting to see if there is any interaction between Rocky and Athena and Wilma and Fred at this point. They both are occupying the same territory.
Joey Chadwick says
Thanks Nancy – we were wondering if that was a different pair since we couldn’t see any babies. Mystery solved!!!
Joey Chadwick says
5/27/2023, Great “watch” while you drink coffee this morning. From 6:38:50 when Cinnamon and Sage wake up and mom stands, you get to see them greet the day. One (probably Sage) is still a bit wobbly. They wander around, and dad shows up also. At one point one chick wanders off the the left and dad goes to search for (and bring back) that adventurous chick. Then it gets really interesting when mom (at 6:48:31 to around 6:52) is showing Cinnamon and Sage how to peck at the ground for food. What a good mom! Then it looks like they leave around 6:52 but they come back to the nest and lay down (it looks like the chicks got tired). Mom and dad seem very nurturing.
Barry Kaplan says
May 27th, a few minutes before 9am
Well, our Crane family put on a spectacular show waking up and leaving the nest this morning. We’ll track them as possible, but meanwhile watch for the highlight video.
There are a lot of people watching live right now so a heads up… we’ll be resetting the YouTube stream and rebooting the camera shortly. The camera will be down for a brief time.
Joey Chadwick says
6:38:50 mom on nest and chick pokes head out of her back feathers, and at 6:38:57 mom stands up and both chicks are there, one sure is wobbly. Then dad shows up, too, from the right.
Erin Gelling says
The family left the nest on May 26 in the afternoon. They returned that evening to roost at the nest overnight. Cranes will do this- come back to the nest to roost sometimes after their chicks have hatched and they have left the nest. We will see if they continue to come back to the nest in the nights to come or leave the nest altogether.
Joey Chadwick says
05/26/2023 – Finally see both babies again – mom stands up at 20:04 for about 2 minutes. Cinnamon and Sage are both there – fine and frisky. Very good to see. Makes me smile! This would be a good Highlight I think.
Joey Chadwick says
05/26/23- OK – for a good laugh – go to 19:06:36 – baby peeks out of mom’s back, then watch all the way to 19:10:29. This is one funny little colt – scampering all over mom’s back.
Joey Chadwick says
5/26/2023 – at 13:58 this p.m. when they left the nest, one baby stayed behind and mom? Called and went back to try and round him or her up. I haven’t seen the babies since then so I don’t know if it caught up or not. At 18:57:16, mom (or dad) is again on the nest and at 19:00 one baby crawls over mom (or dad’s) back. Could someone let us know if you see both babies????
Carol says
Both babies safe . 20:04
Elizabeth Heckmann says
At 20:03:37, Athena stands up and reveals both babies 🙂
Joey Chadwick says
Sorry, baby crawled over mom’s back at 19:10 (not 19:00) – I went back to see it again since it made me laugh and couldn’t find it so kept looking.
Susan M. says
Thanks Joey for the “time” information. I was able to go back and see what I had missed!
The camerawork is fabulous in gaining perspective!
Joey Chadwick says
05/26/2023 – at 13:47 they are at their nest for the last time. Watch for awhile and you will see the exit. This would be a good place to save some highlights. Very sweet.
Nancy Merrill says
The crane family is already roaming away from the nest. This afternoon they were hidden from the camera behind trees near their wetland. We will keep an eye out to see if they return to the nest tonight.
Elizabeth Heckmann says
Athena came back sometime around 7pm and at 7:09 we got a quick glimpse of the chicks as they popped their heads up from underneath mom’s wings!
Joey Chadwick says
Wow Nancy – how did you guess that they would return to the nest – they did – 18:57:16. I didn’t know they would do that. I don’t think they did last year, did they???