Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM

Cranes display courting behavior year round…and mated pairs show what appears to be ritual affection in any season. This is the “display call”. The male leads and the female answers. If you have not heard it, it is one of the more prehistoric sounding calls of any bird…slightly harsh on the ear, but charged with life…echoing back and forth between male and female voice. (The male is slightly deeper and louder…the female lighter, and not so raspy.) When 15 pairs in a flock of 200 cranes get going at the same time, it is a memorable experience. 🙂

Early morning sun picks out every detail here. Nikon P900 at 2000mm equivalent field of view. 1/640th @ ISO 100 @ f6.5. Processed in Lightroom.