The Florida Sandhill Crane stands about 4 feet tall, and can often be seen at our Everglades air boat rides, near shallow freshwater marshes, farmlands, and even in your backyard. While their bodies are similar to herons, they fly with their necks stretched out like geese, while herons fly with their necks close to their body. You may have come across a pair of Sandhill Cranes crossing the street, or perhaps on your local golf course, but they also love Wild Florida!
Foraging for berries, grains, and seeds is characteristic of Sandhill Cranes, but their diet also consists of plants, roots, insects, snakes, lizards, crickets, and even small mammals. In 2002, it was made illegal to feed Sandhill Cranes because they could become aggressive by nature, and eventually become attracted to urban areas, which increase the threat of being hit by cars or being poisoned by pesticides.
Did you also know that the Sandhill Crane has one of the longest fossil histories of any bird alive today? The oldest fossil, without doubt, is 2.5 million years old! Although a 10-million-year-old fossil found in Nebraska is often considered to be of this species, it is more likely that this fossil is an ancestor of the Sandhill Crane.
Chicks remain dependent up to about 9 to 10 months, and eventually form flocks with other subadults, and remain with the flock until they begin breeding, typically around two years of age. Believe it or not, Sandhill Cranes can live to be over 20 years old! Interestingly, they have been used as foster parents for the Whooping Crane, an endangered crane species with only about 500 left in the wild.
At Wild Florida’s Everglades air boat rides, you might just be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Sandhill Crane! Experience Florida wildlife like never before by booking one of our airboat rides and enjoying natural Florida at its finest. Call us today at 407-901-2563 to learn more about our tours and to book yours today!
