Lehigh Valley bird sightings for January 2

Sandhill Crane

A Sandhill Crane, a numerous species west of the Ohio River Valley but rarely reported in the Lehigh Valley, was seen flying near the Route 248 exit of Route 33 in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County on December 27.

The tall cranes, their gray bodies accented by a crimson cap, is an elegant species whether the birds are stepping through wetlands or filling the sky by the hundreds. Nature writer Aldo Leopold wrote of their "nobility, won in the march of aeons."

Adult birds are nearly 4 feet tall; their wings spread out more than 6 feet. They are about the same size, but considerably bulkier, than a Great Blue Heron.

Sandhill Cranes breed in open wetland habitats—marshes, bogs and wet meadows—that are located near shrubs or trees. Their breeding range extends from Wisconsin north to the Canadian subarctic and west to Alaska. The birds winter in California, Texas and Florida.

In between, Sandhill Cranes migrate west of the Appalachian Mountains. They are rarely reported in the Lehigh Valley, although the number of sightings is increasing, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity, a publication of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. The last report was two years ago in East Allen Township, Northampton County.

The population of Sandhill Cranes throughout North America is on the increase, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says. The cranes' numbers have been rising about 5 percent per year since 1966. However, their fate is tied to the species' habitats in areas where migratory flocks congregate.

Sandhill Cranes build their nests in cattails, sedges, bulrushes and grasses. The nests are begun with dried materials, then complemented with green materials and finally twigs to form a cup-shaped hollow. One clutch of one to three eggs is laid. The eggs are incubated for 29 to 32 days. Chicks can leave the nest within eight hours of hatching and soon begin swimming.

Adult birds mate for life and remain with their mates year-round.

The cranes are omnivores, feeding on water plants, seeds, cultivated grain, berries, tubers and invertebrates. They've even been known to eat snails, adult and larval insects, reptiles, amphibians and nestling birds.

Several other species were reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, for the week ended January 2. The Birdline is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. The sightings include the following:

Nazareth Quarry, Northampton County
Ross's Goose, 1 on December 26 and December 27.
Snow Goose, approximately 30,000 on December 26 and December 27.
Cackling Goose, 4 on December 27.
Redheads, 3 on December 27.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on December 27.
Also seen: Bald Eagle.

Williams Township, Northampton County
Harris's Sparrow, 1 through at least January 1.
"Gambel's" White-crowned Sparrow, 1 through at least January 1.

Brodheadsville, Monroe County
(at Weir Lake)
Barnacle Goose, 2 through at least December 31.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Ross's Goose, 1 on December 26 (white morph) and 1 on January 1 (blue morph).

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on December 28.
Common Merganser: 555 on December 23.
Iceland Gull, 1 on December 27 (second-year bird)
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 133 on December 26.
Great Black-backed Gull, 31 on December 26.
Also seen: Cackling Goose, Red-breasted Nuthatch.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.