Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition

Presenters of the Yampa Valley Crane Festival

Sandhill Crane Nest Camera

 

Photo by Abby Jensen

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.

2022 Nest Camera Season

The Crane Nest

Photo by Abby Jensen

This year we focused the Nest Camera on Wilma and Fred, a crane pair that nested in the area in 2021 but were unsuccessful last year. Wilma and Fred built their nest around mid-April, laid the first egg on April 15th and the second egg on April 17th. Wilma and Fred faithfully incubated the eggs, taking turns on the nest, for over 30 days. One egg broke for unknown reasons in early May and was removed from the nest by Fred. Nevertheless, Wilma and Fred persevered. On May 17th, the remaining egg hatched and Pebbles was born. The livestream remained online after Pebbles hatched and Pebbles was frequently seen on camera during her first 3 weeks of life. The family eventually expanded their territory and were no longer seen on the camera once Pebbles was a month old. The family stayed in the general area of their nest throughout the summer.

Watch Wilma and Fred’s nesting journey in this video produced by Photon Syndicate Productions:

 

You can continue to watch the highlight videos from the Nest Camera:

Nest Camera Highlights

 

Here is what some people had to say about this year’s Nest Camera:

I want to thank Erin, Nancy, et al for the clairvoyant placement of Crane Camera, the brilliant commentary-instruction, and edited Highlights, and the daytime and especially those overnight dramas you were able to gin up for us, especially with those rascally raccoons.
~Richard

Thank you to the camera for following our family of 3 as they frolic in the grass! So adorable!
~Susan

Whoever is manning the camera is AWESOME! Love the pan shots and just everything you show us!
~Joey

Thanks so much Nancy and Erin for providing the nest cam again this year. It’s been great fun watching Fred and Wilma and now Pebbles!
~Amy

 

Photos of Wilma and Fred and their chick, Pebbles, on the day after hatching (photos by Abby Jensen):

Other Birds Observed on the Nest Camera

There are many other birds that share habitat with Sandhill Cranes. Here are the other birds we have seen or heard on the Crane Nest Camera:

American crow (heard)
American coot
American goldfinch (heard)
American robin
American wigeon
Black-capped chickadee (heard)
Blue-winged teal
Canada goose
Chickadee (heard)
Cinnamon teal
Common merganser
Common yellow-throat (heard)

Gadwall
Great blue heron
Greater yellowlegs
Green-winged teal
Killdeer (heard)
Magpie
Mallard
Mountain bluebird
Northern shoveler
Northern harrier (heard)
Red-shafted flicker
Red-tailed hawk
Red-winged blackbird

Song sparrow (heard)
Sora (heard)
Tree swallow
Virginia rail
Wilson’s snipe (heard)
White-faced ibis
White pelican
Wood duck
Yellow-headed blackbird

Mammals Observed on the Nest Camera:

There are many mammals that share habitat with Sandhill Cranes. Here are the mammals we have seen or heard on the Crane Nest Camera:

Beaver
Domestic cows
Marmot
Muskrat
Mink

Mule deer
Otter
Raccoon
Skunk

Photo by Abby Jensen


Thank you for taking an interest in our Crane Nest Camera. We hope to see you again next spring when we go live again with the Crane Nest Camera!

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 was 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 who monitored the camera and acted as tech support. Thank you to all our wonderful viewers without which this camera would not exist.

ZIRKEL Wireless

Comments

  1. QUESTION: Would the long, cold, snowy time during the nesting make the gestation period take longer?

    • Joey, that’s a good question. I don’t think so unless the cranes were up off the nest a lot during that time. What can make incubation longer is if the birds spend too much time off the nest and the eggs go long periods without being incubated- This can be an issue with birds where only 1 parent incubates and needs to go off the nest to feed and relieve itself. This is not really an issue with cranes because both parents incubate so they can have very limited time when the eggs are not being incubated.

      Interestingly, birds will most likely incubate more on days of precipitation, like rain or snow, presumably to protect the eggs against the bad weather and cooling too much if the eggs are exposed to cold temps and precipitation. Also probably because the birds don’t want to do much in that weather either.

      For this crane nest, we don’t know which egg is still in the nest- if it was the first egg laid or second. It could be that this egg was the one laid second in which case tomorrow (Tuesday) would be our estimated hatch date.

      Incubation could go longer if the cranes didn’t incubate well at the start or throughout incubation.- meaning if they spent too much time off the nest during incubation. The more the cranes can spend on the nest incubating shortens the incubation period.

      • Thanks Erin. Sure hope a chick hatches – after all their hard work incubating and defending the nest!

  2. The camera is down as of 4 pm. Zirkel is doing an emergency repair that affected ours and numerous people’s internet. We will hopefully have the camera back up soon.

    We went and checked on the crane in the field with an old-fashioned scope and the crane (Wilma or Fred) is still sitting on the nest. We will keep you updated on the crane while we anticipate hatching at any point!!

  3. Monday, May 16, 2022 – 6:42 Wilma stands up and at 6:43 Fred comes to replace her at the nest.

    • The last few days the morning switch has been late at 9-10am. Looks like they are back to switching when they normally do- early in the morning.

  4. Monday, May 16, 2022, around 5:52:12 TWO raccoons show up – and Wilma stands to defend the nest. One raccoon stood up to her – and one did not want to leave. She kept her wings spread and they finally left. Good mama!!!

  5. Sunday nite 18:35 Fred? Is preening then walks off – and 18:38 Wilma flies in. Was kind of hard to see the times so I hope I got this right.

  6. Sunday, May 15, 2022, at 10:12:20 Wilma stands up and at 10:13:27 Fred arrives at the nest and Wilma (reluctantly it seems) walks off, then flies to the left toward the meadow.

  7. Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 8:06:30 a raccoon comes from the left (in the meadow but sort of in the dry grass) and crosses to the right while Wilma is standing at the nest.

  8. May 14, 2022, at 19:48:40 (still daylight) a raccoon (aka trash panda) crosses in the green meadow (quickly) from right to left. He wasn’t seen by Wilma. Hope he doesn’t bother her tonight! Stay alert Wilma!

  9. Nest was unattended from 6:30-6:45 tonight. Fortunately, no critters showed up!

    • Yes, a good thing! Did you see Fred in the background calling? For several minutes about 6:40-6:45 he was in back of the nest near the shrubs and calling and walking around.

      • I did see that. At least he was close by. Any chance of keeping the camera on after the cranes leave to watch all the other birds in the area?

        • We’ll try to keep the camera on a few days after the egg hatches and the cranes leave the nest. Cranes can use the nest in the week after the egg hatches for roosting during the day. We would love to keep the camera up forever, but we will have to take down the livestream at some point. The sounds of the marsh is very soothing to listen to!

  10. 5/14/22 16:45-47 a whacking great black side of beef wanders through the back of the scene! (You CCCC-types can sure cast the drama with lotsa characters!)
    Interesting that the Sitter sat tight during the traverse, and only stood up when the giant had moved out of the picture….maybe knows that disturbance might panic the animal….

    • There have been numerous cows coming near the nest. The cranes don’t seem to mind. Same with the geese unless the geese get too close then the crane will scare them off.

      We try to provide you with only the best crane drama! (Just kidding…)

  11. Saturday, May 14, 2022, 15:35 Fred? Stands up and preens, then at 15:37:35 walks off and it looks like Wilma that returns to the nest. Quick and quiet exchange – no talking this time.

  12. First exchange of the morning was at 10:35 today (5/14/22). That’s relatively late compared to other switches, but yesterdays switch was also late at 9:04. The cranes are acting a bit differently as (we hope) they are preparing for a hatching egg.

  13. Correction – nest exchange typo – exchange happened at 9:04:44 (not 9:44:44) – love hearing them talk to each other.

  14. Friday, May 13, 2022, 6:12 it looks like a nest exchange is about to happen, Fred comes from the right, ducks under the fence, then veers to the right and disappears – THEN, 6:32 Wilma calls and Fred comes back from the right, ducks back under the fence and disappears in the direction he came from at 6:12. No exchange. Then at 9:44 there is a nest exchange. Wilma finally gets a break. She seems pretty glued to the nest lately.

    • Yes, a late switch today. Wilma might be preparing for the egg to hatch soon. And Fred seems more vigilant on defending the territory lately.

      • They are acting different now, aren’t they? Guess it is their instinct – it’s like they know it’s about to happen. Interesting.

        • Wilma and Fred do seem like they are acting different- they know somehow that hatching is close.

          Within 24 hours of the egg hatching, the parents will purr to the chick inside the egg and the chick will “pip” to the parents, so they are communicating just before and as the egg hatches.

  15. Late switch this morning at 9:04. Fred came by the nest at 6:12 and 6:32 but didn’t switch places with Wilma. Wilma seemed content to sleep at the nest all morning.

    We are expecting the egg to hatch in the next several days. Before the egg hatches, the chick inside will “pip”- creating a sound that communicates with the parents that they are going to be hatching, and in response, the adults will purr to the chick inside the egg. The communication can start a day before the chick hatches. The cranes are too far away this year to hear the purring sounds.

  16. Nest exchange at 19:16 tonight. Looks like Wilma is finally getting to rest for a bit before all the night-time activity starts and she has to stay vigilant.

  17. Camera is down again about noon on Thursday May 12. We are working to get it back online. In the meantime, enjoy the sunny Colorado day.

    • Cloudy and windy – very windy in Craig today – if you see me fly by – that’s why.

  18. May 12, 2022, 7:49 nest exchange.
    8:50 – 8:53 – two rock chucks playing in the meadow in the background. Didn’t see them go near the nest – did anyone see where they went? Then two pairs of geese wandered around out there where the rock chucks were.

  19. May 12, 2022, 7:13:30 a mink? Shows up and she chases it away. Does the egg smell? is that why so many critters have come to the nest yesterday and today?

  20. The camera is down this morning (Thursday, May 12). We are working to get it back online. Sorry for the inconvenience.

    • We are back up and running.

      The highlight video of the American White Pelicans is up on the highlights page.

  21. Pesky raccoon at 21:01! You can still see him in the distance at 21:03.

    • There were many raccoons that came to the nest today, or a few raccoons that came many times! So much raccoon activity today for some reason.

  22. This evening, May 11, at about 6:30 p.m. we moved the camera around to get a view of some of the other wildlife in the wetland area where Wilma and Fred are nesting. To our amazement, we discovered a flock of about 7 White Pelican just across the way from the crane nest. The pelicans groomed and preened for more than a half-hour, then settled down for a nap. We also saw Mallards, Coots, and American Wigeons. Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition works to conserve crane habitat which also benefits all these other marvelous species that share the habitat with the cranes.

  23. Raccoon lurking around nest area at 11:28!
    Wilma (?) stands her ground until raccoon scampers off.

    • That raccoon is coming around during the day now! Fred is on the nest now and defending it.

    • Today, Wednesday, May 11, 2022 – I saw two nest exchanges: 8:42 and 11:01. It is interesting that it seems like the nest crane doesn’t sleep much at night, until the robins start singing and then the crane rests. Is that the norm?

      • This year, Wilma doesn’t seem to sleep much at night. We believe that Athena last year slept more during the night than Wilma has been this year. I think it is dependent on the crane and how comfortable they feel. Wilma I think is more worried about predators and stays alert much of the night, but then ends up sleeping a lot during the day.

        I think the “exchange” at 11:01 was not an exchange but that Fred walked off the nest for about 18 minutes and came back. He has been doing that a few times, and it’s really hard to tell when there is an exchange or when it’s the same crane that comes back. But I’m positive that Fred is still on the nest.

        At 11:23 the raccoon comes by the nest during the day!

  25. Fred and Wilma continue to be good parents to their egg in their nest, even having lost one of the eggs last Sunday. We expect the egg to hatch about May 15-17. Be sure to tune in starting Sunday to hopefully get a glimpse of the chick hatching!