Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. |
#2
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:33:26 -0600, "cowabunga dude"
wrote: When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. Sandhill cranes are fairly social birds that usually live in pairs or family groups through the year. During migration and winter, unrelated cranes come together to form "survival groups"** that forage and roost together. Such groups often congregate at migration and winter sites, sometimes in the thousands. Sandhill cranes are mainly herbivorous, but eat various types of food, depending on availability. They often feed with their bills down to the ground as they root around for seeds and other foods, in shallow wetlands with vegetation or various upland habitats. Cranes readily eat cultivated foods such as corn, wheat, cottonseed, and sorghum. Waste corn is useful to cranes preparing for migration, providing them with nutrients for the long journey.[18] Among northern races of sandhill cranes, the diet is most varied, especially among breeding birds. They variously feed on berries, small mammals, insects, snails, reptiles, and amphibians. **which cranes call militias. Everything but fish, and many of your fish sound bigger than small mammals (mice?) and amphibians (small? frogs?) I get the feeling the amphhibians are on land when they catch them. So I don't think so. |
#3
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:53:26 -0500, micky
wrote: In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:33:26 -0600, "cowabunga dude" wrote: When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. Sandhill cranes are omnivorous, meaning they eat a variety of plant and animal matter. Some of their favorite meal items include seeds, plant tubers, grains, berries, insects, earthworms, mice, snakes, lizards, frogs and crayfish. Unlike other wading birds, such as herons, sandhill cranes do not "fish." Of course this assumes you have the right name for the bird. Lots of pictures on the web, but I'm feeling nostalgic so I'm going to look in my World Book Encylopedia. Where did I put that? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/id Sandhill cranes are fairly social birds that usually live in pairs or family groups through the year. During migration and winter, unrelated cranes come together to form "survival groups"** that forage and roost together. Such groups often congregate at migration and winter sites, sometimes in the thousands. Sandhill cranes are mainly herbivorous, but eat various types of food, depending on availability. They often feed with their bills down to the ground as they root around for seeds and other foods, in shallow wetlands with vegetation or various upland habitats. Cranes readily eat cultivated foods such as corn, wheat, cottonseed, and sorghum. Waste corn is useful to cranes preparing for migration, providing them with nutrients for the long journey.[18] Among northern races of sandhill cranes, the diet is most varied, especially among breeding birds. They variously feed on berries, small mammals, insects, snails, reptiles, and amphibians. **which cranes call militias. Everything but fish, and many of your fish sound bigger than small mammals (mice?) and amphibians (small? frogs?) I get the feeling the amphhibians are on land when they catch them. So I don't think so. |
#4
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On 12/3/16 3:33 PM, cowabunga dude wrote:
When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. A blue heron wouldn't have snuck in by chance? |
#5
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On 12/03/2016 3:33 PM, cowabunga dude wrote:
When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. I'd think unless it's a _very_ shallow tank highly unlikely; they are marsh and/or land feeders, not divers. Primarily seeds, cultivated grains and the like altho are considered omnivars, the larger fish would be extreme and outside their range. I'd guess something else got 'em, not the cranes. |
#6
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:33:26 -0600, "cowabunga dude"
wrote: When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. They are omnivorous, "They feed in shallow water, sometimes probing with their bills, or walking through short growth and fields. Their diet includes insects, both aquatic plants and animals, seeds, grains, berries, tubers, fruit, nuts, small mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, rodents, and even small birds. " Beautiful birds, almost became endangered in Florida. Now they have returned and flourish. https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/interactive/springscoast/sandhillcranes.shtml |
#7
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
wrote: In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:53:26 -0500, micky wrote: In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:33:26 -0600, "cowabunga dude" wrote: When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. Sandhill cranes are omnivorous, meaning they eat a variety of plant and animal matter. Some of their favorite meal items include seeds, plant tubers, grains, berries, insects, earthworms, mice, snakes, lizards, frogs and crayfish. Unlike other wading birds, such as herons, sandhill cranes do not "fish." Of course this assumes you have the right name for the bird. Lots of pictures on the web, but I'm feeling nostalgic so I'm going to look in my World Book Encylopedia. Where did I put that? https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/id Sandhill cranes are fairly social birds that usually live in pairs or family groups through the year. During migration and winter, unrelated cranes come together to form "survival groups"** that forage and roost together. Such groups often congregate at migration and winter sites, sometimes in the thousands. Sandhill cranes are mainly herbivorous, but eat various types of food, depending on availability. They often feed with their bills down to the ground as they root around for seeds and other foods, in shallow wetlands with vegetation or various upland habitats. Cranes readily eat cultivated foods such as corn, wheat, cottonseed, and sorghum. Waste corn is useful to cranes preparing for migration, providing them with nutrients for the long journey.[18] Among northern races of sandhill cranes, the diet is most varied, especially among breeding birds. They variously feed on berries, small mammals, insects, snails, reptiles, and amphibians. **which cranes call militias. Everything but fish, and many of your fish sound bigger than small mammals (mice?) and amphibians (small? frogs?) I get the feeling the amphhibians are on land when they catch them. So I don't think so. I'm fairly certain they're sandhill cranes since this is the desert area of west Texas. They fly over in large flocks. A few stragglers will stop off and drink at the stock tank. Up north around Muleshoe you can see them by the thousands on the ground. One time one landed right after I got home and before I could get out of the truck. I tried moving slowly to take its picture, but the first sign of movement it was gone. There is a lot of farming spread out around the area. |
#8
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On 12/3/16 4:16 PM, Oren wrote:
They are omnivorous, "They feed in shallow water, sometimes probing with their bills, or walking through short growth and fields. Their diet includes insects, both aquatic plants and animals, seeds, grains, berries, tubers, fruit, nuts, small mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, rodents, and even small birds. " Beautiful birds, almost became endangered in Florida. Now they have returned and flourish. https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/interactive/springscoast/sandhillcranes.shtml Supposedly, something like 80% of them fly through Nebraska and stop along the Platte River in the spring. There's something like a visitor's center at, I think, Wood River, NE. Lots of bird watchers, I guess. It doesn't seem like we have the good old slow spring thaws with lots of standing water like years ago. The geese and ducks don't hang around the southeast part of the state like in the past. OR so it seems. I don't live in the Platte Valley so can't really say how things are there in the spring. |
#9
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:58:01 -0500, micky
wrote: Sandhill cranes are omnivorous Make up our mind. The other post you said they were herbivorous. Have you ever seen one? |
#10
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 14:16:07 -0800, Oren wrote:
On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:33:26 -0600, "cowabunga dude" wrote: When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. They are omnivorous, "They feed in shallow water, sometimes probing with their bills, or walking through short growth and fields. Their diet includes insects, both aquatic plants and animals, seeds, grains, berries, tubers, fruit, nuts, small mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, rodents, and even small birds. " Beautiful birds, almost became endangered in Florida. Now they have returned and flourish. https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/interactive/springscoast/sandhillcranes.shtml I agree with that. Cranes, egrets, herons and ibis will eat just about anything they can get in their mouth. A big blue heron will eat a fish a pelican can't get down. That red/brown cap on their head is the best way to identify a sandhill. They may be rare but most golf courses are full of them around here. |
#11
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On 12/3/16 3:33 PM, cowabunga dude wrote: When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. Your neighbor invited me to a fish fry he is having tonight. He said you could not make it buy would be there in spirit, sort of. |
#12
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On 12/3/2016 6:11 PM, Oren wrote:
On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:58:01 -0500, micky wrote: Sandhill cranes are omnivorous Make up our mind. The other post you said they were herbivorous. Have you ever seen one? Looked it up on Wiki Sandhill cranes are mainly herbivorous, but eat various types of food, depending on availability. They often feed with their bills down to the ground as they root around for seeds and other foods, in shallow wetlands with vegetation or various upland habitats. Cranes readily eat cultivated foods such as corn, wheat, cottonseed, and sorghum. Waste corn is useful to cranes preparing for migration, providing them with nutrients for the long journey.[18] Among northern races of sandhill cranes, the diet is most varied, especially among breeding birds. They variously feed on berries, small mammals, insects, snails, reptiles, and amphibians. |
#14
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 17:31:56 -0800, Oren wrote:
On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 18:58:03 -0500, wrote: On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 14:16:07 -0800, Oren wrote: On Sat, 03 Dec 2016 15:33:26 -0600, "cowabunga dude" wrote: When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. They are omnivorous, "They feed in shallow water, sometimes probing with their bills, or walking through short growth and fields. Their diet includes insects, both aquatic plants and animals, seeds, grains, berries, tubers, fruit, nuts, small mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, rodents, and even small birds. " Beautiful birds, almost became endangered in Florida. Now they have returned and flourish. https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/interactive/springscoast/sandhillcranes.shtml I agree with that. Cranes, egrets, herons and ibis will eat just about anything they can get in their mouth. A big blue heron will eat a fish a pelican can't get down. That red/brown cap on their head is the best way to identify a sandhill. They may be rare but most golf courses are full of them around here. You may know when birds in the Everglades where shot by hunters. Their feathers sold in the North for ladies hats. The birds were nearly decimated during the time, shot out of their roost. Ft. Myers, it was rare to see a Sandhill Crane. My last visit they were foraging at the new international airport entry road. Beautiful site. I've read they and other large birds are tasty, particularly the big breast meat. A little wild flavor. Saw a food show where they can be harvested in limited numbers around grain fields in some states. (Andrew Zimmerman show?) A favorite bird of mine in Florida (as a kid) was the Belted Kingfisher. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belted_kingfisher They could eat some fish. Drop from above and scoop them up. Never land in the water. I think my favorite bird may be the Osprey although we do get a lot of Eagles down here these days. Both of them will pluck a fish out of the water without even getting their knees wet. I think the white Ibis may be the best tasting wading bird, at least that is the rumor ;-) It is a Chokoloskee Chicken down in Everglades City. |
#15
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
"cowabunga dude" wrote in message ... When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. We always have a pair of sandhills living on/near our 10 acre property. They often nest in our about two acre pond but I've never seen them forage in/near it. They do eat critters, I've seen them dig out moles. A neighbor built an ornamental pond, stocked it with koi. The koi started disappearing, turned out to be a snake that was living in the rock work around the pond. You have snakes? Raccoons? |
#16
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
|
#17
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
wrote: "cowabunga dude" wrote in message ... When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. We always have a pair of sandhills living on/near our 10 acre property. They often nest in our about two acre pond but I've never seen them forage in/near it. They do eat critters, I've seen them dig out moles. A neighbor built an ornamental pond, stocked it with koi. The koi started disappearing, turned out to be a snake that was living in the rock work around the pond. You have snakes? Raccoons? It's a little cold for snakes to be out, and I don't think the snakes we have would swim unless their lives depended on it. I've only seen one raccoon my entire life around here, and that was probably 20 years ago. The stock tank is 18 inches deep so I'm not sure a raccoon would be in water that deep. |
#18
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Do sandhill cranes eat fish
In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:17:34 -0600, "cowabunga dude"
wrote: wrote: "cowabunga dude" wrote in message ... When I went out to get the mail a sandhill crane flew away from on top of the storage building, overlooking the stock tank. They've been around before and never been a problem. I like seeing them around when they drink from the stock tank. When I poured in some fish food I watched for the fish to swarm around and eat, there wasn't any fish. There had been four large eight inch, two large four inch, and the rest were around three inches, but skinny. There were seventeen, now there are none. I poked around with a stick, and still no fish. Never before have fish been missing after I've seen sandhill cranes. As you might be able to tell, I'm disappointed. We always have a pair of sandhills living on/near our 10 acre property. They often nest in our about two acre pond but I've never seen them forage in/near it. They do eat critters, I've seen them dig out moles. A neighbor built an ornamental pond, stocked it with koi. The koi started disappearing, turned out to be a snake that was living in the rock work around the pond. You have snakes? Raccoons? It's a little cold for snakes to be out, and I don't think the snakes we have would swim unless their lives depended on it. I've only seen one raccoon my entire life around here, and that was probably 20 years ago. The stock tank is 18 inches deep so I'm not sure a raccoon would be in water that deep. Outside of zoos, and maybe on the road, I've only seen one raccoon. He was in my big plastic garbage can. Probably more than 18" in but of course it was loose stuff, not water. I got a camera and took a picture, and I thought the flash would scare him away, but he didn't budge. OTOH, I don't think he came back, or maybe I put the lids on better afterwards. There was a rat** in the front yard once, too, about 25 years ago. I threw something at him and I thought even though I missed that would scare him, but he didn't leave until later. Someone should explain to these animals that humans are in charge. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
cranes | UK diy | |||
Estimating weight of overhead cranes | Metalworking | |||
Takedown of overhead bridge cranes | Metalworking | |||
Totally OT Cranes | UK diy | |||
Shop Cranes: I'll show you mine if you show me yours... | Metalworking |