I was out showing property in The Villages when something in the backyard caught my attention. There was a bird feeder, but the birds waiting for lunch weren't exactly what you might expect. It was a family of sandhill cranes. Mom, Dad and their youngster, called a colt.
That sent me down another rabbit hole. Sandhill cranes form long-term pair bonds, often mating for life, and their young can stay with their parents for around 9 to 10 months. That probably explains why we so often see them walking around The Villages in groups of three.
But I also learned something about the bird feeder. Florida Fish and Wildlife recommends hanging feeders more than six feet above the ground and preventing seed from spilling below. Cranes can learn to associate people and yards with food, which isn't good for them. Intentional feeding of sandhill cranes is illegal in Florida.
Just another thing I noticed while showing homes. Sometimes you go out to sell real estate and come home knowing a little more about where we live.
Dick Betts, REALTOR®
The Betts Team
LPT Realty
The Villages, Florida
717-860-3107 cell
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