{"id":9580,"date":"2016-11-30T06:37:35","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T11:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/p4td.lightshedder.com\/?p=9580"},"modified":"2016-11-30T06:37:35","modified_gmt":"2016-11-30T11:37:35","slug":"coyote-and-the-cranes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psnp.info\/p4td_\/?p=9580","title":{"rendered":"Coyote and the cranes…"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Coyote and Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro New Mexico<\/p><\/div>\n

Carol picked up movement way back in one of the fields at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge south of Socorro New Mexico as we drove the tour loop. It turned out to be a Coyote and we watched it come up the tree-line and then cross into the next field fairly close to the road. It stalked across the field to a group of Sandhill Cranes. I could not figure out what it was doing. Sandhills are not easy prey for coyotes…in fact, unless an adult is injured, and totally alone, no coyote stands a chance against a Sandhill Crane. They do take pults and eggs, but only on the rare occasions when they find them unprotected. The Cranes responded to the Coyote by coming toward it, in a group, sending a clear “don’t mess with us…we are ready for you” message. Eventually the coyote went round the front group, up a corridor between groups, and drove off a couple of ravens who were pecking at something dead far out in the field. When you are an omnivore, leftovers are better than food that fights back…especially standing Cranes. <\/p>\n

Sony RX10iii at 494mm equivalent field of view. Program Mode. 1\/1000th @ f4 @ ISO 200. Processed in Snapseed on my Android tablet. <\/p>\n

And a closer shot of the Coyote. <\/p>\n

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