It has been almost three weeks since I last visited the sandhill crane nest featured in my previous post. Yesterday I visited them and found the parents and two new chicks out for a walk.

(You may click on the photos for larger sizes. Apart from being larger, they are sharper.)

I watched as they foraged for insects and whatever else they might find to eat. After a while, they decided to return to their nest.

Arriving at the nest,now largely hidden by tall grass, the adults appeared to make ready for settling in for the night. Only one chick appears in the photo below. I’m not sure where the other one was, but I’m sure it was close by.

I regret missing the newly hatched chicks while they were still in their nest. Nonetheless, it is still exciting to see these little ones scamper after their parents. The are the first crane chicks I have seen. To be able to photograph them is one of the benefits of living in Wisconsin.