By Eliza Ridgeway

Aaron Logan/ Special to the Town Crier Exotic crested cranes reared their heads at Los Altos Hills Town Hall, of all places.

An unusual pair of Thanksgiving birds paid a visit to Los Altos Hills residents last week when two runaway crested cranes, the exotically colored national bird of Uganda, arrived on Fremont Road. Bemused neighbors and town employees did a double-take, then turned to the Internet to identify the 4-foot-tall, tuft-headed visitors.

The birds, City Clerk Karen Jost sleuthed, had been accidentally released from the aviary of a town resident she declined to identify. They first turned up at Town Hall Nov. 17, walking around the grounds and perching on the roof. The birds, which have a 6-foot wingspan, are “spectacular,” Jost said.

“They call back and forth to each other,” she said.

Resident Rhonda Wong, who awoke two mornings last week to find one of the cranes on her front porch, described their call as a “screaming cry” that drew her to the window.

Local non-profit Wildlife Rescue attempted a rescue the first day the birds were spotted, after initial incredulity.

“We get crazy calls all the time,” said Carrie Sipes, animal care coordinator. But after hearing enough details to realize this was the real deal, the wildlife workers outfitted themselves with blankets, a big net, an oversize dog carrier - and goggles.

“Their beaks are sharp,” Sipes said. “They can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

One crane let them get within a few feet, squawked at them and flew off.

“Without its wings being clipped, there isn’t really much you can do but put food out and hope it comes home. From the animal’s point of view, it’s awful. The stuff to eat in the wild in Africa isn’t available here,” Sipes said.

The cranes’ situation may become more critical - while two birds were seen early last week, by Thanksgiving only one continued to be spotted.

Jost said that the property manager who oversees the cranes’ aviary has put out food to try to lure them home.