Cute Sandhill Crane colts signal another generation

Since I started going to the Orlando Wetlands regularly back in 2023, I’ve always looked forward to this time of year — when the Sandhill Crane colts arrive.

There is a mated pair of Sandhill Cranes who nest in the same spot at the wetlands each year. I was a bit concerned because they seemed to be behind schedule, but last week two little Sandhill Crane colts hatched from the nest. I got to see them on Sunday when they were still less than a week old.

Unlike most baby birds, Sandhill Crane colts don’t look terrifying right after they are born. In fact, it’s definitely cuteness overload with these little birds, who will quickly grow and, hopefully, become the next generation of Florida Sandhill Cranes.