We have a number of sandhill cranes that live in our development in South Florida. Each year when the chicks reach the age in which the red patch is starting to become visible on their heads an interesting phenomenon occurs. The individual families, which appear to keep to themselves most of the time, unite and the "teenagers" hang out together. It almost seems as if the parents are bringing them together for a "mixer" so they can meet prospective mates. Am I anthropomorphizing their behavior or is that what is happening?