Sandhill cranes are about 4 feet tall, with a wingspan of over 6 feet. They are real beauties. The mating pair both take care of the chicks. They use their sharp beak to probe for seeds and other food. I was very surprised to see a male use his beak to dig into the ground to get a mole. I wish he would have taken care of all of the moles in the grass.
The giant birds are not very bashful. I have seen them come right up to people. However, it is not wise to try to feed them from your hand; they have been know to strike with that sharp beak. It has the power to penetrate a human skull.
As with all wildlife it is best to observer from a safe distance.
The birds don’t bother to stop for traffic and are often killed by cars.
If you come upon a road sign warning of cranes, please slow down and be aware the birds may be present.
FOG sez: These birds are so big I wonder if they are watching me, or am I watching them?
FOG is a bit of a smart aleck old guy. 
