Christy Yuncker Photo Journal        

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• The floor of Goldstream Valley is permafrost, marsh, and tiaga.
• Several crane pairs nest in bogs in the valley.

• The pond is bordered by marsh and bog which is surrounded by black spruce tiaga forest.
• The pond was formed by the collapse of an ice lens (see " Pingo" in Wikipedia).

The nest territory, looking north toward our house - March 2013



The nest territory, looking south from our house - May 11, 2000.

• Incubation usually begins around May 4. The eggs hatch in 30-31 days. In 2000, the pond was ice-covered for the first two weeks of incubation.
• Roy and Millie usually return at the end of April when the pond is still frozen and snowpatches persist on the bog.
• The first week back is devoted to inspection of potential nest sites around the pond as well as short walkabouts (less than 1 km) into the surrounding taiga.
• Bog-Central is beyond the woodpile in the right center of the photo.

The nest territory - June 11, 2000

• Colts hatch in early June. For 13 weeks after the eggs hatch, both parents are occupied with care and education of the colt(s).
• The marsh bordering the pond is squishy sphagnum/sedge/grass/cattail.
• Bog-Central is covered with high-bush cranberry and therefore the best surface for dancing, running, and preflight run-flap coaching.
• Nightime temperatures dip below freezing in late August, and the family leaves for migration in the first days of September.