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Look Who's Hanging Around in the City!

By Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway California Realty DRE #01492138

November 26, 2011 05:39 AM

www.kristinhamiltonblog.com

While driving in Redlands, CA yesterday heading for the mall, I spotted a white bird in the middle of a field. As I got closer, I realized it was a Crane! According to the International Crane Foundation photo gallery, it is a Whooping Crane.

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Redlands is a city in the Inland Empire with practically no water. We practice water conservation but not considered a drought area. About 30-60 miles east of here are many golf courses or mountain lakes. Hopefully this bird will find water in the Mountain Resorts, Beaumont,Yucaipa, Palm Springs, or Rancho Mirage.

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In all my years, I have never seen a crane here and especially alone in a field. I did some research and found that it probably was migrating from Canada for the winter. Due to lack of water, strayed west since they typically head for Texas. I read where they get exhausted and will stop for 3 days to rest up before continuing their migration.

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In this photo, the bird is hiding out. But my eagle eye spotted him.

Hopefully this bird will get back on its route soon as there are predators in the orange groves nearby like coyotes.

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(This is my favorite photo)

**One interesting characteristic of the crane is that they like to dance. If one begins dancing, the rest of the flock will all will jump in and start dancing.

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Call Kristin Hamilton at 909-557-6966 to list your home!

CA- Real Estate Agent; Kristin Hamilton. Inland Empire (San Bernardino, Highland, Redlands, Loma Linda, Colton, Yucaipa, Rialto, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Chino, Riverside, Montclair, Calimesa, Beaumont) Homeowners, please call me for a Comprehensive Market Analysis to assist you with marketing your home for sale and getting the best price possible. Buyers, if you are planning to purchase real estate, let me assist you in finding the right home. Google me at Kristin Hamilton, Keller Williams Realty, Redlands, CA

This post was authored and or picture was taken by Kristin Hamilton. ©2011, All Rights Reserved, This content may not be reproduced or reprinted (Except for ActiveRain Re-blogging) without express written permission of Kristin Hamilton, Keller Williams Realty, Redlands, CA.

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Curtis Van Carter

Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA

Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Kristin

We have both cranes and egrets here in the Napa Valley. They like to hang out in the many small streams and often when you drive by they take to flight. Thanks for the neat photos. cheers cvc

Nov 26, 2011 05:47 AM

Joni Bailey

101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX

Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

I have been wondering what happened to Cris the Crane! Send him back to Riverside, please! :)))

Nov 26, 2011 05:49 AM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Joni,

Do the cranes fly into Riverside? This poor guy needs to get back on track or this will be his last migration. I am driving to the mall today and I am going to look for him. Nothing I can do but still I hope he is gone.

Thanks for stopping.

Nov 26, 2011 06:03 AM

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Wow a beautiful bird and you did a great job on shooting him. With a camera of course :)

Nov 26, 2011 06:21 AM

Erika Rogers

Red Rock Real Estate ~ Southern Utah's Largest Independent Brokerage - Saint George, UT

St George Utah Real Estate & Relocation Specialist

We'll see cranes once in a while here, but never anything like you caught! Glad you had your camera handy!

Nov 26, 2011 06:21 AM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Curtis,

I love to go visit Napa as it is so green and weather is more neutral than southern California. Maybe this guy moved south for the warmer weather from your area. No water here but there is a water park about 1/2 mile from his location which might have been what caused him to land. I don't know if they can drink water with chlorine in it? Hope he moves on soon and finds his buddies so he can dance some more.

Thanks for stopping and happy holidays.

Nov 26, 2011 06:39 AM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi John,

I get your joke....absolutely the only way to shoot a bird is with a camera. Funny thing, the day before I spotted him on another street nearby but was on the way to the mall as well but did not have my camera. I always keep my camera in the car!!!!

So the following day, grabbed my camera as usual and I keep it sitting open in the seat. It is amazing what things drive by when sitting at a light. But this day I spotted him and went....Oh yea I say this guy yesterday. So I turned around and took one picture. Then waited for a clear area of cars and pulled over and took some more. Very dangerous area to pull over as there are only high curbs and 2 narrow lanes. So I had to open my passenger window and shoot fast. The crane did not make it easy for me.

I guess the life of a photoblogger is not easy!

Nov 26, 2011 06:45 AM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Erika,

I rarely see much besides crows and backyard birds so this was a rare and delightful find.

Thanks for stopping and have a nice holiday weekend.

Nov 26, 2011 06:47 AM

Jeanean Gendron

The Address Realty - Redding, CA

Specializing in Selling Unique Properties

Kristin, it looks a lot like our Great White Herons that we have here. We are close to the Sacramento River and there are many areas of wetlands in our County. It is a familiar site. When I lived in Texas, I was always very interested in the cranes. Great shot and scouting for the shot. Thank you for bringing it to us to enjoy!

Nov 26, 2011 07:14 AM

Marge Piwowarski

Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

Kristen,

Years ago in Houston we had a pair of Whooping cranes spend several winters on our pond. They brought their baby one year, he was gray until he got his adult feathers. They are awesome creatures and endangered as well. It isn't so much the water they drinkthat they need, they eat fish, frogs, bugs and other things they find in water. Hope he finds a place with crane food soon.

Nov 26, 2011 07:58 AM

Gary Coles (International Referrals)

Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV

Latin America Real Estate

Kristin, Your photos are fantastic. It's almost like he was posing and wanted you to get some great photos. I hope both you and the crane are having a great weekend.

Nov 26, 2011 02:41 PM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Gary,

Once he got behind the big bush; like 4 ft high bush but then he came back out. I could still see his white body just barely. But then out he came and posing again. I never saw him dance like the web site said they did. Maybe if I see him again.

Happy Shopping.

Nov 26, 2011 03:44 PM

Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain

Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Kristin,

Thanks for the background. In Northern California we will see the occassional crane and blue heron. When we see them they are usually "fishing" near a small lake or river. It would be a great sight to see a flock of either. Have a wonderful weekend,

Steve

Nov 27, 2011 01:21 AM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Steve,

Thanks for stopping and commenting. This bird was so pretty. I wanted to get closer but was afraid of snakes as I was wearing flats and couldn't take the chance of walking in the field. Beautiful bird and what a find in Redlands.

Happy Holidays.

Nov 27, 2011 04:32 AM

Debbie Walsh

SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY

Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Nice photos Kristin. He definitely looks like he is wandering around looking for the "right way!"

Dec 11, 2011 03:57 AM

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Debra,

I have driven by there 3 or 4 times since and have looked for him but no sign of him. I think he probably rested for a few days and they flew on. It is my wishes anyway.

Happy Holidays.

Dec 11, 2011 03:14 PM

Anonymous

Jessica

Just came across this thread randomly on my search of cranes in the Riverside area. For the last 2 years I've noticed around this time white cranes on a daily basis that fly past my backyard it's pretty neat to see. I live in Moreno Valley and I always wanted to look this up online to see if it was normal for them to be in this area. I wish I could capture a picture of one of them in flight. Your pics are amazing thanks for sharin :)
If I happen to get a picture I will definitely share on here!

Jul 16, 2012 07:50 AM

#17

Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA

(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Jessica,

I saw a crane just this week at the pond between Outback and Olive Garden in San Bernardino on Hospitality Lane. I am hoping the crane I saw in Redlands made it to this pond and decided to stay around. I was worried some animal might kill him as he was just in the middle of a field and at night the predators like coyotes run around looking for food. Silly but I still wonder if he flew on to South America or decided to hang around.

Isn't this guy cute? Birds in the Inland Empire