This is bird note.

In the rosy glow of a sunrise on a southwestern marsh,

a pair of sandhill cranes calls in of a

pair of sandhill cranes calls in unison.

With a graceful leap, wings outstretched,

the two cranes welcome the last days of February.

The stately cranes are courting, renewing an annual dance they perform in earnest as the days

lengthen into spring.

The dance begins with a downward bow, the crane's long

slender bills nearly touching the ground. Then, like enormous Marionettes pulled

deftly upward, the cranes leap several feet off the ground, wings outstretched.

Bowing and leaping, raising and lowering their wings, the cranes dance on as the sun rises. Sand Hill Crane pairs remain together for life,

and their spirited dance plays an essential role in reaffirming this bond.

The Crane's exquisite dance compliments beautifully their rich rolling calls,

one of nature's most memorable anthems.

The elegant sand hills will leap and dance a few days more before migrating north to nest. You can see a video of Sandhill cranes in their courtship dance

on our website bird note.org. I'm Mary McCann. You're going to be.