The economic downturn halted all construction after only 7 buildings were completed. Now the remaining 29 are in various stages of completion; some of the units are finished and occupied.
While the fields were mowed once or twice a year to comply with local codes, the pile of topsoil was allowed to accumulate high weeds and shrubs. It was home to Song, Vesper and Savannah Sparrows and a pair of Eastern Meadowlarks. After returning from our Arizona trip two weeks ago I noticed that a pair of Sandhill Cranes were foraging and loafing on and in the immediate area of the topsoil pile.
One morning only a few days later I heard loud and urgent double calls as the two cranes bugled in turn from the top of the mound. I was not entirely sure of the cause of their agitation, but a slice of dirt had just been removed from the left side of the mound. Perhaps it disturbed or destroyed a nest or young bird.
These photos were taken from the front sidewalk of our condo. As a bulldozer arrived for another load the cranes flew off and I have not seen them since.
I do not expect to be filing many more new images in my FLICKR "Illinois Yard Birds" set.
My video clip documents the cranes' urgent calls.
Shared in The Bird D'Pot
It is sad to see so many birds loosing their habitats.I wonder just how many new housing developments are necessary. Neat video.
ReplyDeleteaww. that's a shame, isn't it...
ReplyDeleteThose cranes look as if they are taking a desperate stand! Something similar happened at a new housing estate near my school. As bulldozers rolled in, hundreds and hundreds of cockatoos manned the wires on the main road and more hundreds dive bombed incoming work utes! It was an amazing, scary sight!
ReplyDeleteThis is good - but not pleasing - post. We have very large house plots in Australia and at one time the house did not fill these up, so that gardens and yards filled in the space - this at least provided some habitat. Now the blocks are the same size, but the houses go all the way to the edge - and people wonder why there are no birds around the new developments!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
The cranes are beautiful. So sad about all the birds loosing their habitat.
ReplyDeleteHow very sad. New developments are jumping up everywhere and you always wonder about the wildlife that are being displaced.
ReplyDeleteAwwww, poor things. It makes all of us bird lovers so sad. And thanks for the tip on how to 'warm up' the bunting photos. I even found one colored exactly like the ones that came from my camera...in the new Reader's Digest Bird Guide. I am so pleased that so many like you are willing to help out when needed.
ReplyDeleteHow horrible for the poor birds! I'm sure they must have had a nest, otherwise they would have left the area.
ReplyDeleteIt's heartbreaking to see and hear them calling in confusion. They are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame for the cranes in obvious distress from those calls. Let's hope they managed to lead the young away to a safer place.
ReplyDeleteso sad. :( But I really hope they found a better place where they can live. They are a beautiful species.
ReplyDeletegreat to have seen the cranes; I hope they have found a good spot to settle
ReplyDeleteDistressing sight and sounds indeed.
ReplyDeleteA sad post, well documented.
ReplyDeleteThose poor cranes seem to be very upset indeed. One must be really heartless to take a bulldozer to a nesting site.
ReplyDeleteI just read all of your displaced bird series (I'm catching up after our roadtrip and a computer breakdown)....the whole thing is so sad to think about, but this is the saddest. One hopes the goldfinch and songbirds are able to relocate without too much problem, but for these poor sandhills...I am so sorry for the destruction of their habitat.
ReplyDelete