The Sandhill Crane "Colt"

Every year a pair of Sandhill Cranes has chicks (actually not called chicks, but called colts instead)  just before the Lamar Valley area.  Sometimes as I drive by I spot them and other times they cannot be located.  I was able to stop once during the first week and then once again during the second week.  The chick, they only had one, had gown so much in that one week! It was crazy how bit it got.  

Sandhill Crane chicks grow rapidly, gaining about 1" per day in the first month.  In three months they are almost fully grown.  They are called "colts" because of their long, strong legs and their ability to run shortly after hatching.

The top two images are from the first week and the bottom images are from the second week.  You can see how much the youngster has grown. Look at those legs!

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