Cranes in the LipsYard neighborhood

Downtown Milwaukee has cranes,

Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) Dad, Mom, and chicks on parade.

We have a nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes out in the LipsYard neighborhood that we see on our daily bicycle ride through a local park. According to the International Crane Foundation's annual Crane Count, there were only 33 pair spotted in Waukesha County in 2005. They are stately birds, walking in a slow, jerky manner, eating along the way, with the little chicks scurrying behind.

About 10 years ago we took a sidetrip at the Wisconsin Dells to the Internation Crane Foundation. The birds were very exotic and rare at the time. How wonderful that today we can see them in a natural habitat less than a mile from the LipsYard. Next time you're in the Dells, make sure to visit.