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Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, February 10, 2012

A National Geographic day for the NOMADS

This morning’s tour was a special one for me.  PHYLLIS and Leonard East, are fellow fulltime RV bloggers, and we have been in email contact about getting together since they are in the area on a NOMADS assignment.  NOMADS stands for Nomads On a Mission Active in Devine Service.  They are a volunteer labor group in association with the United Methodist Church, but you don’t have to be a Methodist to serve.  Many NOMAD volunteers are RV fulltimers.  Right now they have a project going on that involves refurbishing and repairing a couple of houses in Moss Point, MS. 

Moss Point is only about 15 minutes from the refuge, so I suggested a tour to Phyllis.  She asked if she could bring some of the other volunteers along, and I said, “you betcha!” 

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Eight NOMADS showed up this morning, so we went ‘roaming around’ for a couple of hours.  Phyllis and Leonard are the second couple in from the right.  It’s a hoot to listen to them talk, as Phyllis is from New Jersey, and Leonard is from the deep south.  What a contrast of accents.  Winking smile

During the first half hour or so of the tour, I was getting a little worried as we had seen no cranes in their usual haunts.  It’s getting toward the middle of February, and by the end of the month nary a crane will be seen outside of the refuge as they’ll be busy being secretive and building their nests. 

As we cruised the back roads of the refuge, we finally began to see some cranes, but they were mostly taking flight upon our approach.  Those cranes that frequent locations just outside the refuge are more tolerant of vehicles, and allow tour goers to get out of the van to view them in the distance.  Those cranes were all MIA today.

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Then as we rounded a curve into a prime nesting habitat, a pair of cranes took flight, but landed again only a short distance further away.  I immediately stopped the van and turned off the engine.  I wanted everyone to get a good look at them.  That’s when the magical National Geographic moment began.

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One of the pair turned, and started serenading it’s mate. (I’m guessing this was the male.)

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                                                                  Then he began his dance! 

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This is a ritualistic pair bonding activity.  I slowly snuck around the van to open the passenger doors so everyone could get out to watch.

_MG_6118They were quite a distance away, but everyone was able to experience the sights and sounds of this courtship as the male sang and danced for his true love.  Cool beans!!  (I know, I know, not very scientific)

Was the group as excited as I was about being able to see this extraordinary event?  I sure hope so!  Very few ordinary citizens of this world get to see something as magnificent as this.  With only 120 (+ or –) of this species left on earth, it was a display to warm my heart that I will never forget.  To add to the specialness of this occasion, I later found out that neither crane of this pair, that is defending this territory, has been banded.  That means that they are both wild reared cranes, and truly two of the rarest birds on earth.

By the end of the tour, we had seen a record 33 cranes, but that number paled in contrast to watching the “Dance of the Cranes!”

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

33 comments:

  1. For a bird lover such as yourself it must have been a beautiful as well as rare experience.

    I know the reasons for it, but I see on nature programs all the time biologists banding and collaring animals and birds of every kind. Sometimes they even insert a microchip into their bodies. As I say I understand there is a reason this is done, but as I believe that every part of nature is equally important to the whole, who gives people the right to do this to another part of nature. My feeling is that if we cause their dwindling numbers by pollution, global warming or whatever, then so be it. That's what we as the human race have chosen to do. Sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone's beliefs, but it something that has been on my mind for a number of years.

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  2. Outstanding post Judy! I am sure your guests were very happy with their tour. I would have loved to see the mating serenade.

    John and Ellen
    connectedtothevinephotography.blogspot.com

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  3. What an experience! And here I thought it was cool to see humming birds do their ballet! You surely are blessed!

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  4. What a wonderful once in a life opportunity all of you had. I am SO envious!

    Not sure what Gypsy is saying. That we as humans have the right to do whatever we want to the rest of creation??

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  5. WOW!! Just goes to show that special things comes to special people......jc

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  6. How special to see those cranes doing their dance. Something special.

    Mike and Dee
    gonerving.blogspot.com

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  7. A Kodak moment. I'm sure you were a hit with the group, taking them to where the action was. Memories for a lifetime.

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  8. Sorry, Gypsy. You know I have to disagree with you on this. Being a member of that human race that has caused their near demise, I must support efforts to keep these species on the planet.

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  9. What special treat for the visitors. I sure would love to have been there.

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  10. Such a fantastic and incredible adventure. Thank you for sharing your pictures of this beautiful dance.

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  11. What an amazing opportunity to see the mating dance of the cranes!! I am jealous - would loved to have seen that and also to be able to see a record of 33 cranes on one tour! Sure hope your tour group appreciated the specialness of this - but then, Judy, you always give a fantastic tour!!

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  12. Oh Judy that is just fabulous! And if anyone deserves to see such a spectacle, it most definitely is YOU!!!!! Who knows or cares if your tour group was as touched as you were... we all know how excited you have to have been and are all so happy that you got to have such a grand day!

    What a great reward for a aviary friend!

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  13. Cool beans is right! What a special moment to experience. We got to see a male ostrich do his dance as he tried to attract a mate. We were on our way to a lion sighting (this was in Botswana), and I'm just glad that the other couple in the vehicle was like-minded enough to take the time to stop and watch something special.

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  14. What an experience! We get "regular" sandhills during the summer in Montana. Emmi and I were privileged to get to see a "dance" one day--it was one of the most awesome experiences. And, Emmi just sat there with me, no barking, nothing and watched. We have also experienced a "hatch" on our place. The cranes built their next in some cattails on one of our little creeks. We watched her sitting on the egg and on the day the egg hatched we actually got to the the baby--never saw him again except from a huge distance.

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  15. Outstanding! Great that the NOMADS got to see it. They seem to do really good work.

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  16. So glad your guest got to see something that is so special. ~wheresweaver

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  17. Judy..thanks sooooo much for sharing such a rare moment in Cranedom!! I actually got goose/crane bumps looking at those fabulous birds...and at such a rare moment in time...Seriously...NatGeo would LOVE to get their hands on those pics!! (money on the side$$$?)....LOVE, LOVE,LOVE it!!!!

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  18. Judy - I so SO jealous of your camera. All I got was a field. Speaking on behalf of the entire group, you were a most gracious host as were those delightful cranes.

    I highly recommend to all your readers that if in the area, ask for a tour. This lady knows her stuff!

    Speaking of knowing your stuff - we took your suggestion and had dinner at The Shed. WOW!

    You (and the cranes) gave us a perfect start and ending to our day. A dance and then dinner!

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  19. Thanks for sharing this very special moment with all of us.

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  20. What a great experience, you and your group are so lucky to view this. I applaud your work and the effort to keep these beautiful birds as part of our world.

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  21. It is wonderful that you and your visitors experienced the crane dance. The only time I have witnessed it was from a canoe in the Okefenokee Swamp. It is truly an amazing site to see and hear.

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  23. Wow - lucky you and the NOMADS! Wish we could've been there....

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  24. What a fantastic experience and you were able to catch great photos to give the rest of us a view. I agree with your thoughts on saving these birds Judy.

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  25. Your crane pictures are great. We were there between Christmas and New Year and didn't see a single crane. They are magnificent birds.

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