Don’t stand near those cousins!
Step away. Step away now, Sandy! It’s for your own protection.
For once, think of yourselves!
Darn cousin.
You know what it’s like: that cousin.
Who are you calling a brat?
(Guy,1824-1910 Brooklyn Museum.US public domain: artist life+100yrs. photo reprod/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
The one you’d rather not see – or stand next to in the pictures.
They’re always the cutest and most adored.
The ones that amuse adults with the witty remarks about current events – as well as (wink-wink) the celebrity gossip.
The ones using a great vocabulary (“They apply themselves in school – you could do the same.”)
Fair haired kid.
The vanguard of hope for the family name.
Stuck with them. They’re family.
(Fly Sandy, Fly while you can!)
I don’t know, they told us not to get dirty.
(Serov, 1865-1911.US public domain: expired copyright/ life of author+70yrs/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
No one would believe if you told, anyway.
That’s the cousin that hands you the bag of firecrackers and says, “Go around back. It’s OK.”
It’s the one that sees you running frantically towards the bathroom after all that spinach dip and Aunt Marge’s bean soup, and yells loudly, “There’s plenty of toilet paper.”
And there may be somewhere…but not in reach.
You pinch me again and I’ll tell.
(Sargent,1856-1925.US public domain: life of artist+80yrs/ Common.wikimedia.org)
It’s the one that says “I’ll buy your soda if you fish out a Big Red for me.”
And you stand there, up to your armpit in the icy water of that old fashion metal ice box.
Frantically swishing the bottles around searching.
Until the man at the counter inside yells out “I told ya’ll there’s plenty of 7-Up, root beer, and grape Nehi sodas, but no Big Red.”
Then trying to appear totally unconcerned.
Ignoring the snorts and smirks while nonchalantly flapping that dripping frozen arm.
Wait. You said I could go, too. Wait up.
(Gallen-Kallela,1865-1931.US public domain, photo reprod/ publications prior 1923/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
Vowing never again!
But deep inside, you know.
Everyone has to put up with one of those in the family, right?
All for one and one for all..
(1768 Durand.US public domain:artist life+100 yrs. photo reprod/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
So when recognizing the signs, do you warn another?
Seem a kindness to tip them off.
Sandy! Don’t stand next to your cousins!
Forget they are closely related.
Forget they share they same general body type and physiology.
Forget they like to travel the same routes.
Forget they like to live in the same places where you do.
Fly! Look out for yourself! It’s in your best interest!
Flight of the smart sandhill cranes (David Stanley/Commons.wikimedia.org)
You and yours are doing so well.
Comfortably succeeding in life.
Your group is growing in numbers. Better than ever hoped. Almost 600,00 strong.
Compared to those “special” cousins.
Their numbers hovering around 300.
Despite the fact they are sheltered, pampered, and given priority.
Despite their celebrity status meaning fan clubs and guides offering tours to those wishing - hoping for even a glimpse.
A rare sight: whooping crane in flight.
(USDA photo by John Noll. US public domain: by US Fed. employee/ Commos.wikimedia.org)
Birds of a feather flock together, but sandhill cranes would be wise to curtail their standing close to whooping cranes.
It hasn’t escaped notice by wildlife experts that the sandhill cranes are doing much better than the whooping cranes.
Which has Gabe Hamer, clinical assistant professor in the entomology department of A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and other researchers scratching their heads as the species are so similar.
Hoping to discover something that will improve the survival chances of whooping cranes, researchers are examining health risks faced by both species: parasite, viruses, and toxins.
Sandhill crane wisely paying attention.
(Mike’s Birds./ Commons.wikimedia.org)
(Now listen up cranes – no laughing.)
One method of study involves collecting and analyzing bird poop from both species.
Yes, they collected it from the cranes’ rest stops and habitats.
The second method in involves veterinarians in full hospital scrubs doing complete, in-depth physical examinations.
But whooping cranes can’t be disturbed, so sandhill cranes are acting as stand-ins.
Sounds a bit ticklish?
Actually it’s a tad rougher.
The two-hour exam has to be done on a dead sandhill crane.
Hunters have been recruited to shoot down “volunteers” participants.(Hunters get the tasty breast meat)
Intrigued? Appalled? Curious about cranes, science, or hunting, read an article here.
All for moving the body of knowledge forward.
Nervously, feeling a little sympathy for the sandhill cranes, though.
Three calm and confident whooping cranes. Full of self-esteem – and hope.
Klaus Nigge/ Flickr:Snowmanradio:Commons.wikimedia.org)
Somehow the cousins always get the convertible and the rooms with the views of the water.
Maybe if the cranes came off their elevated perches and bothered to mimic their lesser cousins behavior?
Then no feathered would be harmed?
No need to ask, it’s family.
The lesser cousins, the sandhills, are willing to share secrets.
Whooping cranes are what they are: the most admired, the vanguard of the family name. But this time, struggling.
Sandhills just want to stand next to them – to be in the glow of reflected light.
Even if it means sloshing up to their armpits in cold water.
After all, it’s family
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Looking for a 4 leaf clover – to give to the cranes.
(Corteza/Commons.wikimedia.org)
I don’t see how examining the successful cranes will tell researches anything about why the other is failing, but I guess they have their reasons. Regardless, I wish them success in saving the whooping cranes.
Apparently, the two birds are almost twin species internally -DNA is very close. They seem to be hoping to find out what the sandhills are processing and the whoopers aren’t – and what may be building immune system strength…as well as presence of toxic substances in the sandhills (that whoopers may be more sensitive to?). The article is a little confusing, too. Obviously they aren’t going to dissect a healthy whooper – so I guess a sandhill is like a non identical twin…even creepier?. Hope something positive comes from it all for both species. Thanks for flying in to chirp along
Okay. If I get this right, the whooping crane [the show-off cousin] is declining, but the sandhill crane [the common sense cousin] is thriving. So then the scientists decide to bother/kill the sandhill crane, who is minding its own business doing what it’s supposed to be doing to survive, so that the scientists can save the whooping crane. Maybe I’m taking this too personally but I’m rooting for the pragmatic sandhill crane in this family dynamic. Those pesky whooping crane cousins are noisy and overrated. IMHO.
That seems to be an accurate analysis. I tend to see live things as close to humans (maybe be silly, but…). This is close to the decision to risk helping a family member with medical transplants – without informed consent? Funny, but not really as the bird don’t give permission or have a choice.
More of a sacrifice by a few to benefit the many? Also a human concept
Realistically, if there is hunting of sandhills for sport since their numbers permit it – at least some real good and benefit can come from their deaths. The hunters get to shoot – and the scientists get to examine – and hopefully some mystery will be solved that will help the whoopers survive.
A&M wouldn’t be involved in anything that wasn’t expected to yield real results – they are so pro wildlife and animal welfare.
Keeping fingers crossed the answers will be found.
Thanks for flying over!
Apologies to Ally, but I can’t imagine anyone who’s been around whoopers thinking them noisy and overrated. They can be noisy, yes, but that noise is the sound of a species celebrating the fact that it still exists. Every year I make the trek down to Aransas Wildlife Refuge to see them in the flats there. A couple of years I’ve been disappointed and not seen any, but the sight of them is heart-stopping.
Down around Blessing and Palacios, the sandhill flocks can be enormous. If the species are that closely related genetically, it makes sense to limit research to the sandhills. There’s no question that things are changing – it’s been three years now since I’ve seen cabbageheads or had to cope with love bugs. It’s important to know whether agricultural toxins, drought, changing food sources, etc. are affecting the cranes.
Closely watching the Brazos River Authority to see what they will do about withholding water this spring/summer to the rice farmers/wetlands. Wetlands need water to provide habitats for so much wildlife….and without it the salt water isn’t diluted/pushed back which also raises havoc in the marshes. They really need to find out why/how the sandhill is adapting and flourishing while whoopers aren’t. Besides, there’s going to be hunting – sportsmen are strong advocates for wildlife….good to get them involved in the research, too?
So jealous you’ve managed to spot whooping cranes. If you get down there – we want pictures! (of anything, not particular – great spot for photos and stories!)
The cabbage heads aren’t wintering in Palacious anymore? Now I feel bad about dropping rocks on them out of boredom….
Thanks for landing here to chat
Given that humans are responsible for the near-extinction of the Whooping Cranes, I think we should do our best to help the species recover. And just maybe we’ll learn that they’re a good indicator species for the impacts of changing environments such as frogs are. If the Sandhill Cranes being studied are those legally gathered from hunters, then I can accept the importance of their role in the study. Making a situation better and righting old wrongs is not always easy.
I agree with you. The whoopers were taken to the brink of extinction by human action. Somehow the sandhills have adapted and possibly changed to metabolized irritants/tolerated parasites, and are growing in number. It’s not a massive slaughter, but a few individuals collected and carefully examined – which may benefit both species.Involving hunters in the research effort should be encourage. Fingers crossed they find something. Thanks for winging over
I wondered where the cousins was going…very clever how you tied that in
I hate to see the sandhill cranes killed, especially shot down by hunters, in the name of science. I hope human interference doesn’t result in a decline of the sandhill cranes. Nature is about balance, and we (humans) are pretty good at tipping scales.
It looks like the sandhill hunting is very limited. (Whew). Fingers crossed they find some answers. Glad you flew over and stopped to chirp
I don’t like that they’re killing the sandhill cranes, but do hope that having done it, they find/found something to help the whooping cranes. Clever and informative post. Thank you.
P.S. I’m still waiting for the day when they have those scanners from the sci-fi shows and movies where no invasive procedures are needed. Ever. I suppose I’ll just have to dream on.
On the one hand, if meaningful research is gained to help both species, then understandable – but on the other hand it’s a little creepy.
Medical research is getting closer with scanners – but the issue now is to understand what is being seen and what to do about it. (very much true with brain scans/ brain activity scans) Can’t wait to see how it all progresses. Thanks for flying over to chat