Sandhill Crane Nest Camera Highlights 2024
Check out these short highlight videos taken from our live Nest Camera. As new highlight videos are created, they will be added to the top of this page. All these videos are on our YouTube Channel: Colorado Cranes.
3 Unison Calls at Nest Switch
Athena enters from right, 3 unison calls before switching shifts. Rocky exits to the left. Athena tends nest and settles in to brood.
Second Egg Laid
At 6:46 am on April 18th, Athena proudly laid the second egg, pushed it over to the first egg, and continued her incubation duties.
Nest Building in the Snow
Shortly after Athena lays her first egg, the weather turns nasty and it starts to snow. This doesn’t stop Athena from working on her nest.
Afternoon Nest Building 4/16/24
After laying the first egg, Athena begins to create a nest to surround the egg.
Egg Laying
Despite significant winds, Athena squats to lay her first egg on April 15 at 2:04 pm. After the egg is laid, Rocky hurries in from the wings to celebrate with Athena!
Copulation
After chasing off the rival pair, the winners of the territory copulate!
Crouching and Territorial Behavior
Two crane pairs (Rocky and Athena? Wilma and Fred?) compete for the same territory. Both pairs engage in “crouch threats” where they sit on the ground, as though to exclaim “this is my territory and I’m nesting here!”