Sunset Crane

There are a lot of sandhill cranes where I live. Usually they are migratory birds, nesting and hatching near the arctic circle, but a few of these endangered birds have set up permanent colonies. Probably because of our awesome-sauce climate. 8D

also had a nice little picture-captured run-in with one of these guys.

Anyway. I snapped a kandid picture of this guy just before sunset. Its mate and three baby sandhill balls-of-fluff (cue 'aaaaaaaw's) were strolling around. The mother and babies were very wary and wouldn't let me get close, but this guy stood still in front of the sun on the treeline and I was able to crawl within a few yards of him.