Talk about flocking to Gainesville!  My family and I recently trekked out to the LaChua Trail at Paynes Prairie...it's a favorite spot for me to take visitors and especially travel writers as it always promises to be, well, just so good, ole' realllll Florida nature at its best! I mean, plenty of gators, a bison sighting, and always an incredible variety of birds.   No frills, but usually some thrills. 

This glorious, sunny February day was no exception....except for one huge exception, that is.  I think I mentioned in a previous blog, that Sandhill Cranes -- those big old gray honking beasty birds -- make their annual migration south (and specifically to Paynes Prairie State Park Preserve) around Thanksgiving,  give or take a week.  Best estimates put the average flock population at 2,500.  Well, this season, we are hosting double that!  And what an amazing sight it was indeed as we hiked just beyond the bend and just halfway on our 1.5 mile journey, there they were!  Dancing on their spindly little legs and just a flapping and a fluttering their big old wings...looked like to me they were doing the happy-to-be-back in Gainesville dance!    

Have you ever visited Paynes Prairie or the LaChua Trail?  Have you see the Sandhill Cranes?  Do you know the reason or have an educated guess as to why the increase in the flock this season?