Tag Archives: Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission

Migrating Sandhill Cranes Inspire Artistry

crane great Snapshot 13 (12-23-2013 10-51 AM)It’s that time of year again when North Central Florida serves as host to migrating sandhill cranes.  Floridians are very familiar with the loud, squawking sounds of these tall birds with wing spans as wide as 6 feet as they circle above and fly to favorite feeding grounds around the Gainesville area, especially Payne’s Prairie and the shoreline and marshes of Orange and Lochloosa Lakes in Alachua County.  The father of Florida folk, the late Will McLean (1919-1990), was inspired by the “dancing and prancing” of the cranes and penned the song called, “The Courtship Dance of the Florida Sandhill Cranes.” McLean is accompanied in this 1985 live recording by Kate Kennedy on bowed psaltry and David Beede on hammered dulcimer.

 

Florida's Black Hat Troubadour
Cover photo of CD recorded in 1985 at the historic Thomas Center of Florida’s Black Hat Troubadour Will Mclean

prance and dance 1

 

 

Sandhill cranes flying over Watson Prairie near Cross Creek, FL.
Sandhill cranes flying over Watson Prairie near Cross Creek, FL.

In the news video below produced by Donna Green-Townsend on nesting ecology of Sandhill Cranes in Florida, you will hear the melody of McLean’s song performed by Melrose singer-songwriter David Beede and Kate Bostrum. The nesting ecology research was a cooperative effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Wildlife and Range Sciences Department at the University of Florida. (this report originally aired statewide on the IFAS program Florida File in 1990)

 

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Tips to avoid alligator attacks

Aired on WUFT on June 12th, 2012

A Gainesville man is recuperating after being attacked by a 9-foot alligator near a homeless campsite in the woods east of South Main Street last evening.  Alligator attacks are not uncommon in Florida, especially this time of year when more people are outdoors and recreating near water bodies.  Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Karen Parker about ways to avoid such encounters.