Taking Turns
Both the male and female share incubation duties. They take turns sitting on the nest to keep the eggs warm. Here, eastern flock female #309 and mate #403 change places so one can forage while the other sits. This flock's nests are built on small islands of bulrushes, cattails and grassy wetland plants. There, the young are relatively safe from predators. The marsh waters also provide food for the cranes.

Image: Eva Szyszkoski/ICF, with aerial support from Lighthawk