Engaru station, Engaru-town Hokkaido-prefecture, Japan February 28,'12.

Engaru station, Engaru-town Hokkaido-prefecture, Japan February 29,'12.

This is the story about the image: At a few snowy fields at the Akan Prefecture on Hokkaido, Japan, people do feed the Red Crowned cranes in wintertime with corn. On one of those fields, behind the Akan Crane Center, however they also throw some fishes on the snow to feed the White-tailed Eagles and Black-eared Kites. It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while one of the Cranes picks up a fish and, out of pure mischief, does play around with it. None of the Cranes, Kites and Eagles do live down there in captivity, but do fly from there nightly roosting places to one of the feeding places to get some easy food during winter time. Best wishes, Harry

After a short flight of this juvenile Japanese aka Red Crowned Crane the feathers were totally out of shape and what ever the bird did try it just didn't manage to get them straightened again :-) Shot taken near Akan on the South-Eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. Best regards, Harry

Two Juvenile Red Crowned aka Japanese Cranes in a try out for a greeting dance they have to do by the time they reach maturity. Shot taken on a dark, dull and snowy day near Akan on Hokkaido, Japan. Best regards and have a nice weekend, Harry