BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 23, 2025
Somewhere in Maine, a few folks are about to get a big surprise. Nobody expects a sandhill crane to show up in their yard, until suddenly one does. Sandhill cranes are about the same size and shape as great blue herons. They both have long necks and long legs. The similarity ends there. Great blue herons nest in trees, often in colonies containing multiple nests. They feed almost exclusively on fish and other aquatic life. Sandhill cranes nest on the ground in marshy areas. They are omnivorous. Cranes fly with their necks straight out. Herons fly with their necks coiled in. Cranes stalk around fields. Herons pose motionless, waiting for unwary prey to approach them. As their population continues to grow, I expect them to keep showing up. Nonetheless, despite increasing numbers, sandhill cranes are still unusual in Maine. ~ Bob Duchesne