The first ever Chrissiesmeer Crane Festival was hosted by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) on the 6th and 7th of July and attracted over 150 visitors to the tiny town of Chrissiesmeer, exposing them to the magnificence, but also the alarming plight, of our cranes and their wetland habitats. All three of South Africa’s crane species are seen in the area, but the region is of special importance as Grey Crowned Crane habitat. Almost every landowner has a pair of Grey Crowned Cranes either breeding on or visiting their farm, and in the winter months it is a flocking site for these spectacular birds.

Besides being home to the cranes, the area is known to hold more than 20 000 water birds on a regular basis, and is also a proposed wetland area of international importance. With only around 4000 Grey Crowned Cranes; less than 25 000 Blue Cranes; and only 260 Critically Endangered Wattled Cranes left in South Africa it is clear that urgent work needs to be done to save these birds. The EWT is spearheading the necessary conservation action through its African Crane Conservation Programme.

Visitors to the Chrissiesmeer Crane Festival took field trips, guided by Ursula Franke, Senior Field Officer for the EWT’s African Crane Conservation Programme, to view the Grey Crowned Crane flock from open safari vehicles. They were also treated to stargazing, facilitated by Carol-Anne Gillespie from Tribal Sky; various talks on bird related subjects such as frogs, orchids, owls and bats; a night drive with local farmer, Mientjie Rajchrt, where, to name only a few, Shrub hare, Jackal, and a shy Black-footed Cat were spotted; praise poetry on cranes by six local learners from the Chrissiesmeer and Kwa-Chibikhulu Primary Schools; and a variety of food and information stalls manned by a colourful array of local enthusiast, farmers and conservationists.

“We are thrilled at the interest and support we received for the Crane Festival and our hope is that the spotlight shone on the area will promote sustainable local economic development that enhances the ecological integrity of the area. We’re already in planning mode for the event in 2013 and this promises to be an even bigger and better success,” concluded Franke.

The Chrissiesmeer Crane Festival was supported by Qualitative Quarter, Painted Wolf Wines, Boland Cellars, Amarula, Izimbali Lodge, D’Vine Restaurant, Ocean Basket, Total, Amber Africa and Tribal Sky, Mugg & Bean, Penny’s Recycling. For more information on the Chrissiesmeer Crane Festival or the African Crane Conservation Programme please contact Ursula Franke on ursulaf@ewt.org.za

The Grey-Crowned Crane

The Grey-Crowned Crane - Balearica regulorum - has the most impressive plumage. There are only between 3000 to 4000 left in South Africa. It is a near-endemic to Southern Africa.

Description

The body of the Grey Crowned Crane is mainly grey. The wings are also predominantly white, but contain feathers with a range of colours. The head has a crown of stiff golden feathers. The sides of the face are white, and there is a bright red inflatable throat pouch. The bill is relatively short and grey and the legs are black. The sexes are similar, although males tend to be slightly larger. Young birds are greyer than adults, with a feathered buff face.

Call

It has a booming call which involves inflation of the red throat pouch. It also makes a honking sound quite different from the trumpeting of other crane species.

Food

It feeds on insects and other invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, as well as grass seeds.

Breeding

The Grey Crowned Crane has a breeding display involving dancing, bowing, and jumping. The nest is a platform in tall wetland vegetation. It lays a clutch of 2 to 5 eggs. Incubation is performed by both sexes and lasts 28 to 31 days. Chicks fledge at between 56 to 100 days.

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you or book on one of the following Aves scheduled tours: -

Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.

Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.

The Wattled Crane

The Wattled Crane - Bugeranus carunculatus - is by far the most endangered crane species in South Africa with only 240 left. They are the most wetland-dependent of Africa’s crane species and are exceptionally susceptible to disturbance while nesting in wetlands, and will easily desert a nest if disturbed.

Description

It is the largest crane in Africa with the back and wings ashy gray. The feathered portion of the head is dark slaty gray above the eyes and on the crown, but is otherwise white, including the wattles, which are almost fully feathered and hang down from under the upper throat. The breast, primaries, secondaries, and tail coverts are black. The secondaries are long and nearly reach the ground. The upper breast and neck are white all the way to the face. The skin in front of the eye extending to the base of the beak and tip of the wattles is red and bare of feathers and covered by small round wart-like bumps. Wattled Cranes have long bills and black legs and toes. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable although males tend to be slightly larger. Juveniles have tawny body plumage, lack the bare skin on the face, and have less prominent wattles.

Call

Wattled cranes are usually quiet birds. Their calls are high-pitched and include a far-carrying kwaamk bugle-call.

Food

The wattled crane mainly eats aquatic vegetation, but also eats tubers, rhizomes, seeds, small reptiles, frogs and insects. It often submerges its entire head under water when feeding.

Breeding

Wattled cranes breed only in wetlands. Breeding pairs maintain a territory, so that nests are always at least 500m apart. The nest is a large mound of grasses and sedges placed on a tuft, surrounded by open water. One or two eggs are laid, but only one ever hatches, the other being abandoned. Incubation period is 33-36 days. Fledging period is 135 days. Chicks reach adult height and can fly by four months, but are not sexually mature for 4 to 8 years. 

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you or book on one of the following Aves scheduled tours: -

Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

The Blue Crane

The Blue Crane - Anthropoides paradiseus - is the national bird of South Africa , yet it is threatened. It is endemic to Southern Africa. Of the 15 species of crane, the Blue Crane has the most restricted distribution of all.

Description

Body plumage is silvery bluish grey becoming darker on the upper neck and the lower half of the head and nape. Blue Cranes have a long neck supporting a rather bulbous head, short pink bill and black legs. The primary feathers are black or slate grey. The tertial feathers of the wing are long, dark and dangle nearly to the ground, giving this crane an elegant appearance. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable. Juveniles are slightly lighter blue gray than adults, and lack the long wing tertials.

Call

It is usually quiet, but has a distinctive rattling croak, fairly high-pitched at call.

Food

The blue crane is primarily vegetarian and eats small bulbs, seeds and roots. They do, however, eat a variety of insects (locusts, termites, caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, etc.), worms, crabs, fish, frogs, reptiles, and small mammals.

Breeding

A pair of blue cranes is said to mate for life and display a wonderful courtship dance which comprises of the two individuals jumping up and down with their wings extended. They usually lay two eggs with an incubation period of 30 to 33 days and both male and female incubate the eggs. Both chicks are frequently reared with each attempt and are fed on an initial diet of insect larvae and worms. The chicks are able to fly at about three to five months.

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you or book on one of the following Aves scheduled tours: -

Aves Eastern Cape Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.

Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves Western Cape Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves West Coast Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.

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