Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 21:34:16 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Leslie Roslund Subject: SANDHILL CRANE IN DORCHESTER COUNTY MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Ospreyers - A very tame and easily photographed adult Sandhill Crane has shown up= on Middle Hoopers Island in Dorchester County. It was first seen by local residents on July 22nd. All day today it was loitering amongst about 30 Canada Geese on the 2-acre yard of 1845 Hoopersville Road. The property owner had identified it correctly, and reported its presence to staff at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, and they passed the word on to me. I drove there this afternoon, and found a bird that looks and behaves remarkably similar to the bird that spent Apr 1999 to Feb 2000 near Tarbutton Mill Road. This bird is large, carries no bands, and shows practically no fear o= f humans walking as close as 20 -30 feet. It showed less wariness than the Canada Geese that were in the same yard. The property owner joined me at the road, and together we walked close enough to the bird to have it tota= lly fill the field of view of my camera with 400mm lens. The property owner is enjoying the bird, and will welcome visitors as long as they treat his yard with suitable respect. There is plenty of ro= om on either side of this lightly traveled road to allow pulling off and viewing the bird. Precise location of 1845 Hoopersville Road:(deLorme, Page 31, 6C) This is about 32 miles from the Route 50 turn-off in Cambridge th= at one would use for a visit to Blackwater. Proceed to and through Church Creek on Route 16 and at the edge of Church Creek turn right on Route 335. Continue on Route 335 past Blackwater and all the way to a stop sign wher= e Route 336 meets 335. Go to the right, which keeps you on Route 335 and continue towards Hooper Island, crossing a small bridge between Meekins N= eck and Upper Hooper Island, and later crossing a large bridge between Upper Hooper Island and Middle Hooper Island. From the far end of the large bridge, continue about 2 miles and you will reach a well-marked residence lane on the left side of the road, carrying the number 1845. Expect the geese and crane (if present) to be wandering in the well manicured yards = of the residents in that area. These geese are resident in the area. If you are making a special trip down that way, and would like to che= ck on the presence of the bird before leaving, you may call me for a status update. Les Roslund Lroslund@bluecrab.org Easton, MD 410 763-8169 ========================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ========================================================================= ===========================================================================