Overview
Get to Know Garrett and Allie!
Sandhill Cranes are a tall, grey bird with a bright red patch on their foreheads. They are not a common sight in Maryland, as they will typically only stop briefly in this state during migration. In areas they are more commonly seen, they are very well-known for their fluent dances and territorial personalities.
Who’s Who
Sandhill Cranes Garrett and Allie are easily identified by the white band on Allie’s right leg. Garrett does not have any bands on his legs.
Garrett arrived at the Maryland Zoo in 2015 at roughly 18 months old. He was found in need of help in Garrett County, Maryland (where he got his name), thin and showing clear signs that he was relying on humans for food– he would emerge at the edges of parking lots, show little hesitation near vehicles, and approach and follow people surprisingly closely. Once away from the dangers presented by a lack of fear of humans, he has thrived and proven to be an exceptional animal to care for among the zookeeper team. Garrett was very lucky, but stands tall as an excellent example of why we should not feed animals in their natural habitats.
Allie joined Garrett in the Marsh Aviary in 2017. She was found in Florida with a severe injury to her left wing and spent time in rehabilitation in SeaWorld Orlando, but due to the extent of her injury she was deemed non-releasable. The Maryland Zoo was happy to provide residence for Allie to partner with Garrett, and the two cranes have shared space since. Allie was not imprinted to humans at an early age like Garrett, so typically keeps a further distance between herself and people.
Where to Find Us
Garrett and Allie travel along the outer spaces of the Marsh Aviary through the day, and are most often seen near the end of the stream close to the mesh room attached to the aviary. This room is called a “howdy,” where new arrivals to the aviary will briefly spend their time getting to know the other birds in a safe space.
Special Care
Sandhill cranes have an extensive list of dancing behaviors for their courtship displays, which are most often seen from March to May. They will bow, jump, flap, and throw small items like sticks into the air while facing each other. During May, the cranes will create a large nest along the edge of the aviary and take turns protecting one or two eggs in the nest. Allie typically takes the daytime shift to protect the nest!
Guests may occasionally hear a loud, bugle-like trill as they travel the zoo, repeating for up to one minute. This is a sandhill crane unison call, which strengthens the bond and territory shared by Garrett and Allie. This call can be heard over two miles away!
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Sandhill cranes are listed in their conservation status as “least concern,” meaning that the population of sandhill cranes living in their native habitat is doing well. However, five subspecies of sandhill cranes are largely recognized. Of the five, three are non-migratory: Mississippi sandhill cranes, Florida sandhill cranes, and Cuba sandhill cranes. Mississippi and Cuba sandhill cranes are listed as endangered on a more local level, largely due to habitat loss. Florida sandhill cranes, for similar reasons, are a state-designated threatened subspecies and are legally protected.
How you can help
Maryland is typically only a brief flyover state on a greater sandhill crane’s migration path, but you can still be mindful to ensure the wellbeing of cranes that stop into our local spaces. Leave native habitats untouched as much as possible, and be sure to never leave trash or other belongings behind.
How the Zoo is helping
The Maryland Zoo is one of many zoos that house animals that have been rehabilitated but can no longer survive without professional care. A bird may be unreleasable due to severe injuries that prohibit movement, a lack of fear of humans, or damage to their senses that makes it hard for them to find food or avoid predators.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Gruiformes
- Family: Gruidae
- Genus: Antigone
- Species: A. canadensis