Our good friend Craig, back in France, posted this wonderful photo on his Facebook page recently.
There are very few things in nature that create such emotion.
The annual leaving and returning of the Cranes is probably the best example. Every year we would see them above our cottage, high in the air calling to each other, and occasionally circling to reform the group.
We would wave as they went by, and shout 'Farewell' as they made their perilous journey South. It was almost tear inducing. When they returned the following year it was with a huge sigh of relief that we shouted 'Welcome home', accompanied by more waving and more emotion.
I cannot think of any other wild-life event that has the same effect on us.
25 comments:
What a marvellous sight it must be. All I've seen is a flock of geese flying overhead in that traditional v shape, honking to each other. That was 30 odd years ago and the memory is still strong
Very similar, but the Cranes fly very high and make a wonderful sound. Very moving.
Very nice. Imagine having invaders clear off for six months at a time.
WOW, what a spectacular sight to witness Cro ..... I get excited when I see the Red Kites but to see Cranes en masse like that must be amazing. Like Local Alien, the Canada Geese fly over our house every morning in the V shape, always honking away and very low too. For Hertfordshire ,which is pretty much the suburbs of London, we do get our fair share of wildlife. XXXX
I can imagine it, but not see it.
I don't know why it's such an emotional sight, but it is. I think they go down to N Africa, but where they've come from, I'm not sure. Holland maybe?
I once saw a group of about 8 Red Kites circling above our cottage; I haven't seen any since. Lovely birds.
I saw your title and expected to see building cranes such as we have around here adding yet another layer to whatever is under construction.
Birds never entered my mind.
I live in a hilly side of town .Theres a wood behind my flat where there are buzzards. See them a lot as they circle overhead.Also we once saw a peregrin falcon overhead. .They nest on the cathedral which is visible from my window.Its about half a mile in a straight line.
I expect we are much too far north to see anything as exotic as that. I can understand your emotional response at witnessing such a spectacle.
There are, of course, web sites that give the when, from and to of these birds. When over Saussignac The Dog was mesmorized. We have the smaller less vocal birds here on the Ribble.
There are some huge ones around here, luckily none to spoil our view.
We have lots of Buzzards in France. I like to see them flying around, although the local Crows/Rooks aren't too keen on them.
The emotion probably comes from the fact that they've been doing the same thing for millennia. It's very moving.
Saussignac would be on the same flight path (roughly) as over our cottage. No Cranes here either, just a few Pigeons and Seagulls.
When I saw the title of this blogpost, I was expecting tales of tall metal structures with long arms and hooks hanging off the end and a bloke called Bill pulling the levers like a magician... but the actual subject is better.
Snow birds, I have known people like that
My earlier comment was here and then it was not here. I doubt that you censored me as the comment contained no vulgarity nor reference to Madame FiFi - your French mistress.
Very sensible too!
I found it. Someone had tucked it away with Corned Beef and Rollmops.
I'm going to pay more attention to what's flying over my head during migration season. It's almost always Canada geese but maybe I've been missing some sandhill crane flocks.
Migrating birds are a nice constant for us all. Watching them gather as the season changes and fly in V-formation to warmer climates is a wonderful sight. Do you have migrating birds in Brighton?
A wonderful sight and I understand the emotion.
Canada Geese don't have the same effect; they're just Canada Geese. Why Cranes should be so different, I have no idea.
No, I don't think so. Just Seagulls and Pigeons here, apart from a variety of small garden birds.
My husband gets quite misty eyed when the rut starts for deer. The bucks get crazy and throw caution to the wind in pursuit of...well...and anyway, their imprudent behavior makes them easier to target. It's different but kind of the same.
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