Eggs - E. D. James

They’d spotted the nest two days previously on a reconnaissance hike they’d taken to survey this area just to the north of the oilfield along the Amur. They’d been surprised to see a nest so close to the operations, but the habitat in the area was perfect and apparently the cranes found that to be sufficient enticement to stake their territory. After studying the satellite images of the area, Olivia and Wilson selected a spot that they felt they could set up a blind without disturbing the birds and made plans for the following day.

They lay on their stomachs on the cold ground. The walk in had been tricky in the dark. Even with the night vision goggles the uneven, soggy ground was difficult to maneuver wearing heavy packs. They needed to be in place before the sun came up in so that the parents would feel comfortable leaving the nest on their morning hunt for food giving them a chance to observe the nest up close. As the sun rose a ground fog developed blocking their view of the nesting site. Then the heat of the day began to slowly set in and the fog lightened and lifted. Olivia and Wilson communicated with hand signals. As they shifted from the night vision goggles to binoculars they could see the parents begin to move around the nest warming their feathers in the sun and searching for any potential nourishment that might have crept in during the night. Finally, at about eight, the two spread their long wings and lifted off to the feeding grounds nearer the river.

Olivia and Wilson waiting for several minutes just to be sure the pair wouldn’t circle back, then made for the nest with the daypacks they’d set up. They maneuvered as quickly as they could through the standing water that separated the blind from the nest. When they got close they carefully crept up to where they could peer over the sides of the pile of twigs. And there, nestled in moss at the center of the twig pile were two perfectly formed mottled brown and crème colored eggs. Only one would survive most likely, but at this moment the red crane population stood the chance of a one percent gain for the season.