The cranes' courtship dances are fascinating. They leap high into the air and flutter their wings. As soon as they touch down, the ritual begins again. Such displays can last for hours. The dances are important, since once a crane mates, it's for life.
Cranes have a daily routine.
They rise from their roosts at dawn and spiral into the sunrise. Their calls build to an absolute roar as they head out to search local fields for food within a few miles of their roosts. The birds feed throughout the day. Riding updrafts created by the sun's warmth, they may soar for hours, settling back to earth eventually to feed. As evening approaches, they rise again and noisily return to their roosts.