This edition of Creatures of New York is devoted to one very large creature. Distantly related to the Great Blue Heron and the Whooping Crane, the Huge Honking Crane can be found in many cities throughout the world. In light of the recent crane failures in New York and in Miami, it’s nice to see one of these creatures in good health, doing its thing. Despite a few highly publicized incidents, the Great Honking Crane is not endangered.
Here’s the base of a crane recently spotted in the wilds of West 15th St.
Here is the payload: a brand new water tank, which the crane is preparing to feed to its young. (The cranelings, perched on a nearby roof, are not visible.)
The crane begins lifting the water tank high, high up towards the sky.
The water tank rises higher.
Having lifted the water tank all the way into the sky, the crane gracefully swings it towards its final position.
Coming about, the crane lowers the tank towards the rooftop, where the hungry cranelings wait to guide it into position.
