Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #46 – Delicate
As many as 1,400 whooping cranes migrated across North America in the mid-1800s, by the late 1930s, the Aransas population was down to just 18 birds.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service estimated the population of whooping cranes is at 505 in 2017.
They are 4 ft 1 inch to 5 ft 3 inch in heights. It is the tallest North American bird. They mate for life, but will accept a new mate if one dies.
Their diet consists of blue crabs, clams, frogs, minnows, rodents, small birds, and berries. These long-lived birds can live up to 24 years in the wild.
This crab looks too big for Mr. W to chew. 🙂
They migrate more than 2,400 miles a year, from Canada to Texas’ coastal plains in and around Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They stay here from November through March, according to Texas Park and Wildlife.
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is one of their favorite places. The wildlife refuge makes sure whooping cranes are happy during their 5-month staying.
Their beautiful black wing tips are only visible when fly.
It was a chilly morning, we were there 3 hours on a small boat. The captain handed me a couple of hand warmers so I could keep clicking. Finally we got a few shots of these cranes in flight.
The World Is A Book... 
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