Sandhill Crane

These birds were seen at Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC, where they are part of a "wild" population that was started by a rehab adult that mated with a wild adult at the sanctuary and they breed successfully most years. The question is still out there for the experts "Are these wild birds?" They are free to leave at any time. I am not sure myself but I sure love going to get such a closeup look at Sandhill Cranes! There are fewer locations where they nest in the lower mainland of BC. but there are still a few pairs nesting in Pitt Polder and maybe Burns Bog. The cranberry and blueberry farms are taking up all the wetlands where they used to nest.