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Black Skimmers and Missississippi Sandhills
The Sandhills were 6 months old and were being released into a staging pen before being released into the general population of cranes at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Refuge in MS. There are just over 100 of this variety in existence. These cranes were raised in New Orleans and the handlers wore crane costumes when feeding the juveniles. A total of 12 6 month old cranes were released with this batch.
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wild, man.
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They are juveniles that were raised in captivity, but they never saw a human. Their handlers wore crane costumes so they never associated humans with food. They were being released into a stagging pen to acclimated to their new home in a wildlife refuge.
They are wild, but since they are so few of them and they are heavily managed, they are banded and have radio transmitters so they can keep track of them.
The biologists wanted the few who saw them being released to be close to them because they wanted their experience with humans to be negative, so they would not associate humans with food, but with being transported around, blindfolded etc. Like I said, these are a very rare variety with just over 100 in the wild so they are heavily managed.
Thanks! They put on a good show.
Four and six are very nice.
Thanks! It was very nice being that close to the sandies.