Jun 11 2009
World’s Largest Sandhill Crane in Steele, North Dakota
Before we got to North Dakota, I’d never even heard of a sandhill crane. I knew that the World’s Largest Buffalo (in Jamestown) and the World’s Largest Holstein (in New Salem) were along I-94, but the World’s Largest Sandhill Crane, in Steele, must be a newer phenomenon.
We needed gas in Steele as well, and somehow I concerned enough about the gas situation as we pulled off the interstate that I missed the Sandhill Crane. We ended up driving most of the way through Steele before stopping to ask a pedestrian how to find the crane. (That’s one thing you can count on in North Dakota–people know their hometowns, and they’re friendly if you need help.) She pointed us right back to the Interstate, where the Sandhill Crane was–you guessed it–right across the road from the gas station, in front of the Lone Steer restaurant.
The sandhill crane is, according to Stan Tekiela’s field guide, one of the tallest birds in the world. We also saw several of them in the vicinity of Steele, so it made sense that if you’re going to build a really large bird, you should build one that’s local and is actually big in real life.
In fact, the area around Steele is one of the nations top birding areas, and “Sandy” the sandhill crane was built to draw attention to that fact.
The speed limit on North Dakota interstate highways is 75 mph. While you’re flying by, be sure to take notice of the Really Big Things along the way. Better yet, stop, take a picture, support a local business, talk to the residents, and look for some real birds. It’s a lot more interesting that way.
For more travel photos, visit Photo Friday at DeliciousBaby.
I think you will have to do a post on the Big thing along your road trip. What an intersting thing!
Amy @ The Q Family’s last blog post..The White House from Afar
Amy’s right…you have to make this a regular feature or maybe write a book
. In the mean time we are enjoying your collection of biggest things. Will have to find one here in Ca to coax you to the West Coast. Well…Castroville had a giant artichoke…does that count?
Bridget Smith’s last blog post..Photo Friday: South Carlsbad State Beach
Hahaha, what will they think of next! I love it.
Photo Friday – Beautiful Lago Amatitlan
marina k. villatoro’s last blog post..Beautiful Lago Amatitlan, Guatemala – Photo Friday
Love this bird shot! Some useful info for when I venture that way.
Cate’s last blog post..Photo Friday – pots of colour Xi’an
Boy, you really like big stuff don’t you? We have real Sandhill cranes in a local Metropark here near Detroit. The sounds they make are unique. Beautiful birds.
I love whacky America.
Peter Carey’s last blog post..Panorama Crazy!!
Have you ever seen the film “Michael” starring John Travolta as a pleasure-seeking archangel? He loved the big stuff as well.
Monna’s last blog post..Good-byes by Polaroid
I remember seeing a sign for the sandhill crane as we were driving through North Dakota two summers ago, but we didn’t get to stop (we did see the big buffalo, though!).
I’m thinking you’d really enjoy seeing the huge goose in Wawa, Canada (northern Ontario)
http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/Wawa_goose.htm
We saw the goose when we were up in Wawa about a dozen years ago.
Oh…this site ought to keep you going for a while, too…Big Things in Canada http://www.bigthings.ca/bigthing.html
Dominique’s last blog post..Photo Friday
[...] Dakota is known for a few other big things, however: The World’s Largest Sandhill Crane, World’s Largest Holstein Cow (coming soon), and of course the World’s Largest [...]
I’m a big fan of the “oversize monument.” I’ve been to this one, too!
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[...] find the World’s Largest Sandhill Crane in Steele, ND, just off Interstate [...]