Friday Foto Friends: The Baby Cranes "Colts" Have Arrived!

Greetings from Still Waters Pond!  We've some real excitement around here the past two days! If you've been keeping up with the Sand Hill Crane story over the past month, you will remember that Mom and Dad Crane built a nest out in the middle of the pond, and on President's Day (February 19th, 2024), the first egg appeared on the nest! Here is the link to that day: Link to the day the first egg appeared

And then, on George Washington's birthday day, (Feb. 22, 2024),egg number #2 appeared in the nest: Link to the day the 2nd egg appeared    And if you recall I said that I would be naming these babies "Lincoln and Washington" in honor of our Presidents.  Later I decided that Abe and George would probably sound better and be easier to say.

Well, yesterday, just a little over a month later, March 21st, 2024, egg #1 hatched, and so this baby became "Abe"  or maybe it is "Abby".  I really don't know and probably never will know for sure if it is a boy or a girl as they all look so much alike.  Anyway, here are the pictures from yesterday morning when Abe first appeared:

You can see his little orange body under the mother. And you can also see that the other egg is still right there intact.

Baby Abe stayed close to Mama while she tended to the nest and also probably was checking the other egg for sounds of the little chick inside the egg.

I wish these photos were clearer, but they are quite a ways out in the middle of Still Waters Pond, and on this day the sun was quite bright, which makes it hard to get a good clear photo.

I love how Mama is tenderly caring for her newborn chick. (they babies are chicks until about 2 months, and then they are called "colts" as they get taller and much more active).

After a while Mama laid back  down on the nest to keep the other egg nice and warm as it was a chilly morning.  Baby Abe stayed close by her side and stayed nice and warm:

Daddy Crane also stayed close by Mama and the baby all day, watching for intruders and curious neighbors.  The Canada Geese did hang around for awhile, but Daddy Crane did not make them feel too welcome so they soon flew away.

Throughout the day little Abe got braver and braver and moved farther away from Mama while she still had to keep an eye on egg#2.

I think Mama was whispering to the baby in the egg to hurry along and "get cracking". LOL.

After a while she sat back down on the nest and let little Abe play in the mud along the shore of the nesting area.

And that was yesterday.  Well, this morning we woke up to heavy rain and very cloudy skies, but through the rain I was able to see an amazing event taking place. I wonder if you can see what is happening here:

Yes, Little Abe is watching as his baby brother George is breaking his way out of his egg!!!

And in a few minutes there he was!  Baby George made his appearance exactly one month after his egg first appeared!!

Little Abe is saying hello to Little George and welcoming him to their new world!

Mama is checking out Baby George and Daddy Crane is keeping a close watch on Little Abe and the whole family.

I apologize again for the blurriness of these photos, but it was very cloudy and rainy and so we are fortunate to get these pictures at all!

Mama tends to Baby George and Daddy tends to Little Abe....

And soon the two siblings are united and getting acquainted while Mama tidies up the nest and starts disposing of the egg shell.

The two chicks were literally poking their beaks at each other and tussling about like any two siblings would do.

I can tell they are going to be very good playmates. They are already so happy to be there together!

You can see Mama is picking up the egg shell with her beak and I guess she just disposes of it according to what I read.

The two chicks continue to play together and toddle around while Mama keeps a close watch.

Aren't they adorable????

Awww, they are kissing each other on the beaks! I wish these photos were clearer, but you get the idea!

They are so cute!!!  I will never be able to get anything done now!!!

Later on Mama covered the chicks under her wings and they all took a nice nap.  

Psalm 91:3-5  NKJV

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

A little later they woke up and the family began foraging together for food.

They stayed close to the nesting area for a while...

And then they ventured a little farther away to find some good food...

Again, both Mama and Daddy stayed right with them while they explored their new surroundings:

And after a while they started heading back to the nesting area to stay for the night:

They will continue to sleep at the nest site for a long time as that is where they feel safest.

And so, that is the excitement here on Still Waters Pond for this week!  As you can imagine I won't be able to get much work done around here because it seems like every minute they are doing something else and I hate to miss it! I apologize for so many pictures, and I promise not to drive you crazy with this, well, maybe I will! LOL.  Feel free to tune in or out if this is too much nature for you! LOL.  Meanwhile, I just want to thank you all for visiting, and I am really trying to get around to visit you as well, I promise!

Here's a favorite old hymn to sing along with:  Under His Wings:

Under His wings I am safely abiding;

Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me;

He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Refrain:

Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.

2Under His wings—what a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort, and there I am blest.

Refrain:

Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.

3Under His wings—oh, what precious enjoyment!

There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;

Resting in Jesus I’m safe evermore.

Refrain:

Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.

Link to more facts about Florida Sand Hill Cranes

Link to Crane nesting facts, although this is from Colorado. The information is still very good and should be pretty accurate for our Florida cranes as well for the most part.

Have a wonderful weekend!!! I know where I'll be! LOL.

Today, Saturday, March 23rd, I am linking this post up with https://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2024/03/saturdays-critters-536.html

This is my first time to visit here, and I hope to join in more often! Thank you, Eileen!