Popis: |
This chapter shows how the author journeyed out to Nebraska in the last days of March to witness the tail end of one of the great ornithological wonders in North America: the northward migration of sandhill cranes along the Platte River. For probably 10,000 years or more, the tall, steel-gray birds have thrown their unmusically beautiful calls across the shallow floodplain that is now in the heart of America's corn and burger-producing breadbasket. In the air they were gracefully buoyant and powerful fliers. On the ground they were just as stately — walking, stalking, dancing, and prancing as crane-kind does. When one is surrounded by cranes it is easy to understand how the family of birds have generated awe and worship around the world. |