The front page of the Easton Newspaper (Star-Democrat)  showed a photo of a
Sandhill Crane that was paying a Sunday afternoon visit to a bird feeder at
the corner of Janet's Way and Bradley Ave in Easton Club East - which is
located beside Dutchman's Lane about 1/2 mile east of Rte 50.  The home
owners keep bird feeders filled throughout the year, and this time their
efforts were rewarded with a visit of a quite special bird.

 

This bird showed up right after the storm squall passed late Sunday
afternoon, and showed little fear of people as it scarfed food off the
ground below one of the feeders.  It's actions sounded similar to those of
the Elkton bird that has been recently reported.  That bird was still up
there today (Tuesday), so the Easton Crane must not be that same bird.

 

I have not heard reports of this Easton Sandhill Crane staying around beyond
Sunday, and it was not there this evening.  The total habitat over there is
really not very inviting, so I would suspect the bird just stopped in for a
convenient snack and then moved on.

 

Nevertheless, birders of the region would be wise to watch carefully in
parks, on golf courses, and in open fields - just in case the bird has not
gone totally our of our region.

 

Les Roslund