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 followed a different Sandhill Crane pair, Fred and Wilma, as they successfully hatched one egg and raised that chick for several weeks. In 2023, we again witnessed the nesting saga of Rocky and Athena, who successfully produced two adorable chicks, Cinnamon and Sage, both of whom hatched on the same day. The family hung around the camera for several weeks before leaving the area.
This year, 4 cranes returned to the nest area on March 19th but were gone the next day. A few days later, an adult pair appeared on the scene, had territorial disputes with another pair, and engaged in nesting behaviors. Finally, this pair (Rocky and Athena) laid their first egg on April 15 at 2:04 pm and the second egg on April 18 at 6:46 am. Incubation is approximately 30 days so they are expected to hatch beginning on May 15.
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.
Emily Lancaster says
Beaver at 17:55!
Richard R Palmer says
While the new pair diligently nesting with sitter all day in the vicinity of the culvert-maybe-dam (and nearly behind a pesky fat bush), another crane pair that Nancy Merrill suggests are the disrupted-nesters Rocky & Athena noted by the camera from about 12:30-1308 foraging in the foreground area. Several strong, windy rainstorms for the afternoon….
Nancy Merrill says
It does appear that Rocky and Athena returned to their general nesting area today around 12:48 and engaged in pre-nesting behaviors. Maybe they are getting ready to re-nest? There is still time for a successful hatching!
Linda Howard says
Will you please let us know what happened to the eggs? Or else where to go to see your posts. Thanks! Linda
Nancy Merrill says
Rocky and Athen laid one egg on April 15 and another on April 18. They diligently cared for their eggs, taking turns with brooding and defending the nest. Unfortunately, this nesting site was very exposed. While the pair was successful in fending off smaller predators, a visit from a coyote during the early morning of May 1 proved to be a more substantial threat.
Regretfully, the eggs were lost during this predation incident. Video clips of this sad incident are posted on the website nest camera highlight page. Fortunately, the adult birds survived the predation event and we have seen them foraging in their territory. They have not re-nested.
While this predation event was unfortunate, it is important to remember that existence in the wild comes with inherent threat and unpredictability. On the morning of May 3rd, the nest camera crew discovered a second pair of cranes, Ariel and Eric, nesting in the same wetland where Rocky and Athena had been nesting. Since then, we have been following this second pair on the camera.
Richard R Palmer says
Here’s a howdy-do. At about 16:53 the sitting crane is contentedly sitting, and the camera shifts away till about 17:11, when camera shifts back to….an empty nest! About 17:20 a crane comes wandering in from the right, does some apparent egg rolling (or something) and sits at about 17:22 — till now. Hmmmmmm…
Nancy Merrill says
This morning (May 5) we sent out scouts to the nesting area that we have been featuring on the crane camera. The scouts found a pair of cranes foraging in Rocky and Athena’s territory. We are fairly sure this was, indeed, Rocky and Athena and that they have not re-nested. Additionally, the scouts were able to locate the second nest that is now being featured on the camera. This second nest is on a tiny island in a very watery area about 150-200 yards from where Rocky and Athena had been nesting. We think this new nest that we are following is better protected from predators. We hope for a successful hatching for this pair (still to be named).
Richard R Palmer says
Just about 07:48 the overnight sitter stands up, unison hollers for shift change, and shortly thereafter day sitter arrives, takes over, rolls eggs, and sits down. Overnight sitter, after a good quarter hour of “personal hygiene” preening, heads off about 08:07 for the Coffee Shop down the road apiece……or something like that. This pair seems to show less of the “practiced coordination” Nancy Merrill was speaking of than the other pair that suffered the Coyote Invasion, suggesting less experienced nesting???
Susan M says
Thanks Richard! I love the commentary!
Elizabeth says
20:02-Crane stands over nest, adjusts nest materials (?), and then sits on nest.
20:40-Crane stands over nest, preens, adjusts nest materials (?), and then sits on the nest.
Nancy Merrill says
This morning (May 3rd) our amazing camera crew discovered a pair of nesting cranes in the same wetland where Rocky and Athena had been nesting. Is it Rocky and Athena or the rival pair that we have been hearing all along? This nest is further from the camera but we will do our best to follow the action.
Barry Kaplan says
A further update:
7:38:20 Her mate!!! Unison calling!!! A switch!!!! Egg turning!!
Barry Kaplan says
And now, the night of May 2nd, we’ve located a crane during the night.
It is located a bit further from the camera so more difficult to get as detail, but daybreak has made it clear, it is a female sitting on what appears to be a nest.
May 3rd, 6:07:27, she calls — confirming she’s a female.
At 6:08:27 she stands, preens her brood patch, and exhibits typical nesting behaviors of moving nest material and if we’re seeing it correctly, making the motions of turning AN EGG!
Nancy Merrill says
During the night of May 1, a coyote scared Athena off the nest, ate one egg and made a hole in the second egg but then abandoned it near the nest. We don’t know why the coyote did not eat the second egg. (perhaps the egg was not viable and did not contain “food” matter). Athena returned to the nest some time after the coyote left and attempted to incubate the damaged egg. Rocky returned around 6:23 am the morning of May 1 to relieve Athena. When he rolled the egg, it was apparent that there was a hole in it. The cranes continued to try to incubate the damaged egg during the morning of May 1, but Rocky finally removed it from the nest and disposed of it shortly after 11 a.m. Since then, the cranes have been seen foraging in nearby fields. We were even able to see them copulating once again. Does that mean they will re-nest? We will have to wait and see. We are working on creating highlight videos of these tumultuous events. They will be posted in the next few days on the website. . Meantime, we will keep the camera rolling and hope for these resilient birds to attempt a second nest.
Susan M says
Thank you Nancy.
Karen Whitney says
We believe that a coyote got the eggs last night. We are working on getting footage to share with you all. It is unclear whether the cranes will try to start over with a new nest. This is a tragic event that demonstrates how hard it is for these birds to raise their young successfully.
Kathy S says
Heartbreaking, did the adults survive?
Karen Whitney says
Yes, they have been in the area all day and looking like they want to rebuild. Time will tell!
Richard R Palmer says
All very sad, though Nancy Merrill had pointed out the number of potential predators, and the vulnerability of the nesting site, and indeed had mentioned that this is a coyote trail.
Nevertheless, it is a bit curious that Emily L had observed a “changing of the guard” at 6:28 AM on May 1st, and I had *thought* I visited the site about 8 AM that morning and observed a crane on the nest, and then by 11-ish the cranes were off the nest (abandoned). I will be very interested if you succeed in getting video of the coyote invasion — YIKES! Hope there is time and natural impulses sufficient for our pair to “try again” this season. Maybe there will be another pair found to be visible in camera range…. Nature!!!!
Richard R Palmer says
Addendum to above. I noted that the camera picked up “a” pair (our pair?) in the big open spaces to the left of the “water channel” that I think had the nest on the “right bank”. The pair wandered that area for awhile after 15:30, and crossed the “channel” one after the other about 16:14 and one followed the other up into the stand of trees to the right…..and I think did not emerge from there.
If they “try again” to nest in there…..well, how inconvenient for us voyeurs….
Keith says
Nest abandoned at 11:00 May 1?
Susan M says
I’m watching this play out but I don’t understand. Are the eggs no longer viable and it’s apparent to the cranes?
Joan says
How long can the eggs be left unattended? The parent has been gone at least thirty minutes. Why was one of the eggs destroyed?
Emily Lancaster says
Changing of the guard 6:24am
Nancy Merrill says
Whenever the cranes switch places on the nest, the crane that is returning to the nest rolls the eggs. Rolling ensures even heating/temperature of the eggs. Not only does rolling distribute the heat evenly throughout the egg, but it prevents the egg membrane from sticking to the shell. The rotation also helps the embryos get enough albumen, the mixture of water and protein that makes up the “egg white” part of an embryo and provides nutrients to the developing chick. Thanks to Van Graham and Erin Gelling for this information about egg rolling. More about the eggs in a future comment.
Elizabeth says
0951 and 0953-a bird of prey of some sorts can be spotted flying through the shot. Maybe a lighter morph Red-tailed hawk or an Osprey? It’s difficult to tell on a screen. The crane on the nest does not react.
Linda says
Is that another crane nesting in the upper half?
Nancy Merrill says
Linda, A pair of Canada Geese are nesting in the upper half near the cranes.
Linda says
Thanks