Throughout my life I have been entranced by the beauty and wonder of nature. Part of this wonder is the quite miraculous abilities many members of the Animal Kingdom exhibit (including mammals, birds, butterflies, etc.). For decades I have been fascinated by the migratory behavior of different species, including birds and butterflies. I have created several public art sculptures to honor and draw attention to these incredible creatures, in hopes that more people will be interested in helping preserve their habitats, thereby helping to contribute to their survival as a species. One at-risk population of these magnificent creatures is the Rocky Mountain Population of greater sandhill cranes, which migrates during the Spring and Summer from their wintering grounds in Northern Mexico and SE Arizona (Wilcox Playa - about 30 miles from where I live!) to nest and reproduce across Montana, including around Bozeman.

Five populations of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) have been identified in North America. These include the Eastern, Rocky Mountain, Lower Colorado River Valley, Central Valley populations, and the Mid-Continent (made up of greater, lesser [G. c. canadensis] and Canadian [G. c. rowani] subspecies) sandhill cranes. 3-year average population estimates are: MidContinent Population 648,616; Eastern Population 78,532; Rocky Mountain Population 18,482; Lower Colorado River Valley Population 2,989. I believe we need to do all we can to enable the Rocky Mountain Population to not only survive, but to flourish.

Story Mill Community Park, with its improved wetlands and wildlife habitat, restored stream banks, and reconnected historic floodplains already has nesting sandhill cranes, and this monumental sculpture of a sandhill crane in full defense mode enhances the park visitor experience and connection to place.

“The Defender” presents a high energy, charging, defensive, extremely alert creature seeking to keep interlopers from its turf. The Sandhill Crane assumes an aggressive pose to defend its claimed area, whether that be a place to forage or to nest. The sculpture,measuring 14 feet tall, about 8 feet long and about 7 feet at its widest point, is highly visible at a distance by people Exploring Story Mill Community Park.

The Defender is extremely durable and robust, and will not be harmed by either the severe winter conditions typical of Montana winters or summer heat, with scorching sunlight and destructive ultraviolet rays. The Sandhill Crane’s welded steel body, head, wings and tail are fabricated of a skeleton of carbon steel pipe and reinforcing rod. A skin of perforated carbon steel sheet covers the sculpture’s body. The ½ inch diameter perforations create an airy form allowing light and air to pass through.

The legs are constructed of 3 inch and 2 ½” steel pipe with ¼” thick walls welded side by side for the entire length of the legs to form an extremely strong and rigid structural support for the rest of the sculpture. I have used this approach for “The Fisherman”, a monumental scale giant egret now owned by the Port of San Diego (San Diego’s structural engineers approved this construction methodology in advance), And “Frog For Dinner”, another monumental steel sculpture along the River Walk in downtown Green Bay, WI.

The sculpture is mounted on one large concrete footing. The footing, designed by our Professional Engineer according to Montana code, is of 3500 psi concrete with reinforcing rod, poured to be 3 inches above grade. Eight - 5/8" dia. X 14" long stainless steel bolts, exposed 2", are welded to the rebar cage cast into the footing. Both feet of the sculpture are welded to a 4’W x 4’L x1/2” thick steel cap that ise secured by these bolts to the massive underground footing.