Free Flight

Sandhill Cranes in the Pattern                            24 September 2012

The Sandhill Cranes are athletes of the winds, experienced airmen, as social as pilots at a pancake breakfast.  With winds brisk and from the west, all inbound traffic used a very wide-open "Runway 27".  Because it is an uncontrolled airspace, all pilots called back and forth on open communication, sharing a commonly understood frequency.  Formation flying was popular among the thousands of participants.  Most pilots used a very long downwind and turned an abrupt short final.  This pattern was easy to learn, and many experienced pilots showed their young the best ways to go about the approach.    Enjoy the air show!  This is one of nature’s finest.

Two days in a row, Sandhill Crane photography has been simply amazing. The waves of birds have taken my breath away.  I am hopelessly lost to their magic.  Knowing a little about how flight works, I have been able to get where the birds tend to set up for their landings.  I used nothing more than a Canon 300mm lens to get this close.  If only I could give you the whooshing of wings, the contact calls, the triumphant bugles, the warmth of the setting sun.  The pictures can take you part way there, but you will need to make this experience your own some day.  Crex Meadows is a wildlife watcher’s dream.