Chow Down, Fuel Up
Whooping cranes get ready for migration by fueling up for the long trip. Take a look: A crane's throat can expand as it swallows fairly big chunks of blue crab—after the crab's sharp pincers are pulled off, of course. Cranes can also swallow whole mice and frogs. A crane's tongue moves up and down, but not side to side. The short tongue helps push from the front of the beak "down the hatch." An agile tongue and stretchy throat help cranes fuel up for the migration ahead, and at stopovers all along the way. What else helps cranes prepare for migration? That's this week's topic.

Courtesy of Laura Erickson