DANCING CRANES

  

I’d only seen my favorite crane pair in their usual location once this season.  And then I got lucky.  I was just leaving the area after shooting a farm country sunset when I saw them herky-jerkying across their regular field.  Almost immediately the male began his beautiful dance, while the female turned her back and ignored him.  He bowed, flapped his wings, and jumped to get her attention.  Eventually she turned and joined in too.  I wasn’t sure if they were preparing to mate or just dancing for fun or practice.  It was about ten minutes after sunset and pretty dark already, but I adjusted my settings and got what I could of their amazing movements.  Even the line of deer walking behind them stopped to watch.