Over the first week Pi toddles after Millie and Roy, waving his wing-stubs.In addition to sequences of dancing photos, the attached Vimeo file presents the still photos in sequence.
By the end of the first week, Roy sometimes breaks into dance with dramatic wingspreads, perhaps to catch Pi’s attention with this demostration. Pi responds by starting to dance.
On day 12, Pi faced off to Roy and danced as Roy spread his wings. But a little later on that day, Pi stumbled as he danced. Roy and Millie looked intently at him sprauled in the grass. Almost immediately, Pi got up and apparently vocalized to Millie, as if he were asking for another dance opportunity.
On day 14, we see another example of Pi dancing actively with Millie, running, facing off, standing upright with wings bent, wing-waving and jumping high.
By 24 days of age, Pi repeatedly joins Millie and Roy in extended family dances.
At the end of 24-day family dance, dance practice may be lading into "Ground School" for flight training as Roy seems to take-off while Pi runs flapping after him.
For more information on PI, go to AlaskaSandhillCrane.com.
Cast:Christy Yuncker Happ
Tags:Sandhill Crane, colt education, dancing, Alaska sandhill crane and teaching. bird behavior