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Late in the day of June 10, 2008, a family of Sandhill Cranes was observed in the shallow water of a pond in Lakeland. The proud parents were searching in the water for stalks of dead weeds and other materials with which to assemble a small nest. The chick was dutifully observing the activities and staying close. That portion of the pond had been a small dry island a few weeks before, until rains had raised the water level, yet the water was still shallow enough for the young chick to be able to wade there with its parents. It was just before sundown and they were preparing the nest for the night's stay. (Fortunately, no "gators" were present.) During the next couple of days, rains added enough water to submerge the nest completely. So, the tedious efforts at nest building were unfortunately short lived, but they did serve a purpose, at least for the one night's safe stay.
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