.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I’ve met Stumpy and Crossbill

I worked in the visitor’s center this morning helping out Fonda.  I’ll talk about what we were working on in another post.  This afternoon, Jay came to my rig and asked if I thought I’d be able to lead a tour tomorrow morning.  (Wednesday is his golf day:))  I told him I felt comfortable with the material to be covered on a tour, but was not positive about the route taken in the van.  So, we headed out to cover the route that I would be taking with eight people signed up for the tour.

 

The tours are run in the early morning to increase the chance of seeing the cranes.  When I accompanied Jay on his tour last Saturday, we found one of the cranes that is known as Stumpy.  I had spotted a Mississippi sandhill crane in a field, but it was limping.  After checking the colors of the bands on it’s legs, he informed me that this bird was known as Stumpy.  It turns out this female crane was born without a foot (toes) on one leg, hence the nickname. 

_MG_9045Most of the 112 Mississippi sandhill cranes are known by a number, but a few have acquired a nickname.  Today, we spotted another pair of cranes in the backyard of a private residence.  The bird on the left is known as Crossbill.

_MG_9047You can see that Crossbill’s top mandible seems to cross over the lower mandible.  See how straight her mate’s bill is?

_MG_9048When cranes are feeding, most often one of the pair will stand guard while the other one eats.  In the first two pics, Crossbill is standing guard while her mate eats.  These cranes, by the way, mate for life.  The crane on the right is known as right leg red over orange by left leg green, since that’s the colors of the bands on it’s legs.

_MG_9049Also notice that Crossbill has a white band on the right, and the yellow transmitter on the left leg.  That transmitter allows staff to follow her movements and zero in on her nest once breeding season begins.  Must be time for her to eat while hubby stands guard.  :)

_MG_9054Occasionally, both birds will feed together if all seems safe.  This private resident enjoys the cranes, so puts out corn everyday for them to feed on.  While this practice is not encouraged by the refuge, it does help us tour guides who feel some pressure to produce some of these most rare birds for out tour participants.  :)

 

There is also one crane known as Leroy, but I don’t know his story yet; nor have I met him!  I’ll have to ask around about that.  I’m going to hope for positive vibes tomorrow morning as I lead my first tour at this refuge.  I’m counting on you, Stumpy and Crossbill!

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy       

18 comments:

  1. Good luck on your tour tomorrow... I am sure it will be awesome!!

    Kerri in AL :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another great post -- have never seen such cranes. Having lived in AR most of my life, I didn't have a clue MS had so much to offer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good luck on your first solo tour. By the way, LOVE your picture at the top of your blog - amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fascinating about those Sandhill Cranes....You are a first rate tour guide..I gained a lot of knowledge without the regular tour...Thanks for the private tour...they are amazing..

    ReplyDelete
  5. thank you so much for taking the time to share what you learn! It's facsinating!

    Gratefully,
    Cyndi And Stumpy @ RVly Ever After

    ReplyDelete
  6. I add my wish for good luck to the others. I bet you are a great guide.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The crossbill obviously does not make feeding difficult for her. I have read articles where severly crossed bills has caused starvation for some birds.
    I would love to go on tour guided by you. You are much more interesting then reading my Sibley's! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. You can be my tour guide any time. Have fun tomorrow. And say hi to Crossbill and Stumpy for me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the lesson on the cranes, it was very informative. You will do very well on your tour, you are so knowledgeable.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good luck on the tour. Nice pics of the cranes too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. have a great tour tomorrow!..you will do just fine!..bird lady of blogland!..nice header picture too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ok, the dental person in me just needs to get out. I'm not sure how it goes with birds but in mammals the upper jaw in the maxilla, lower jaw mandible. I'm not sure if it applies to bills, probably not. Every once in awhile the dental educator (I teach dental hygienists and dentists) just has to peak out and stretch a little. I learn so much about birds from you I hope its ok I shared that. Loved the photos of the cranes today.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for posting pictures of the cranes. I didn't know what they looked like. What odd-looking birds, yet regal and elegant, too. You will be a first-rate tour guide!

    ReplyDelete
  14. hope there's no craning of necks (sorry) tomorrow and everyone cooperates for a fantastic first tour by you! these cranes appear to be larger than sandhill cranes, and able to afford much more jewelry!

    i know~i'm terrible...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Say, I wonder if that Leroy crane's last name could be Brown. Might wanna be careful of that bird if you come across him cause I've heard he is a mean dude. In fact, the late Jim Croce wrote a song about him...

    And it's bad, bad Leroy Brown
    The baddest Crane in the whole damned town
    Badder than old King Kong
    And meaner than a junkyard dog

    Keep a wary eye out for Leroy on your tour today Judy cause he just might come over & mess with your tour flock:))

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great header picture. I am shocked that they would give nicknames to those birds based on their deformities. :)

    ReplyDelete