Florida sandhill cranes are welcoming new offspring at this time of year in The Villages.
If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a new colt or maybe periodically check in on the family as the little one grows up.
Villages-News.com’s Ron Clark captured this amazing video of colts taking their first steps.
Florida sandhill cranes are a non-migratory species that nests in freshwater ponds and marshes. This species is monogamous, breeding with only one mate, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Courtship consists of dancing, which features jumping, running, and wing flapping.
Sandhill crane nests are built by both mates with grass, moss, and sticks. Females lay two eggs that incubate for 32 days. Both male and female participate in incubating the eggs.
The offspring will begin traveling from the nest with their parents just 24-hours after hatching. At 10 months old, juveniles are able to leave their parents.
Bonding between pairs begins at two years old.
The diet of the Florida sandhill crane primarily consists of grain, berries, seeds, insects, worms, mice, small birds, snakes, lizards, and frogs.
