KwaZulu-Natal will celebrate a unique anniversary this year, when the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) celebrate the 20th consecutive annual crane aerial survey in July.

Ian Rushworth of EKZNW said: “The 20 year anniversary makes this survey one of, if not the, longest running aerial survey of cranes anywhere in the world. A wonderful achievement considering that as a province we are responsible for more than 85% of the country’s Wattled Crane population.”

KwaZulu-Natal is home to all three of South Africa’s crane species, all of which are threatened. The province has proved to be the stronghold for Wattled Cranes in the country, with approximately 85% of the estimated 250 Wattled Cranes found in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg mountains and foothills. South Africa’s Wattled Crane population is listed as Critically Endangered due to a significant decline in numbers between the late 1970’s and 2000. This same area is also home to approximately 60% of the country’s Grey Crowned Crane population, which is estimated to be between 5500 and 6500 birds. Unfortunately the status of our national bird, the Blue Crane, in KZN is poor as their numbers have dwindled to around 1000 individuals over the last 3 decades due largely to the loss of grasslands within the province. It is for these reasons that 20 years ago, EKZNW initiated a crane aerial survey to take place during June and July annually. This is the peak Wattled Crane breeding season, as well as the time of the year when Grey Crowned and Blue Cranes flock together.

The main aims of the surveys are to:
# Determine the population size of Wattled Cranes in the province,
# Determine the breeding status of known Wattled Crane pairs,
# Identify trends in the Grey Crowned and Blue Crane populations, and
# Locate Wattled Crane nests with two egg clutches.

Each year, the aerial survey totals approximately 25 hours of flying and covers approximately 20 000 km2 over five days.

“The information collected over the last two decades has been hugely valuable. It has helped us to monitor trends in crane populations, while also contributing significantly to the development of a viable captive breeding flock of Wattled Cranes that is managed through the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme,” commented Tanya Smith of the EWT.

The Wattled Crane Recovery Programme is a national programme implemented by five partner organizations, namely: EKZNW, the EWT, the Johannesburg Zoo, the KZN Crane Foundation and the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZAB). The aims of the programme are to prevent the extinction of Wattled Cranes in South Africa by supplementing the wild population with chicks produced from abandoned second eggs collected from the wild, or from the captive breeding flock, and to build a viable captive population.

“The aerial surveys allow us to locate nests with two egg clutches, therefore facilitating the collection of the second laid eggs, which are always abandoned by the adults once the first egg has hatched,” continued Smith. “These eggs are then removed and incubated until they hatch, after which the chicks are hand-reared and integrated into the captive breeding flock.”

It is evident from the long-term monitoring achieved through the aerial surveys that the steady decline of all three crane species in KZN, as witnessed between 1970 to 2000, has ceased. This has largely been due to the efforts of the EWT, EKZNW, KZN Crane Foundation, landowners and other key stakeholders. The EWT strives to ensure the long-term survival of Wattled Cranes in South Africa through conservation in action and has contributed significantly to the conservation of South Africa’s Wattled Cranes for nearly two decades.

“We are fortunate to have a committed group of stakeholders in the KZN region who are dedicated to the conservation of Wattled Cranes. The aerial surveys are evidence of all our hard work over the past 30 years bearing fruit and we look forward to further successful collaborations and partnerships in our efforts to save our cranes,” concluded Smith.

Wattled Crane conservation in KwaZulu-Natal is sponsored by PG Bison and Rand Merchant Bank. For more information on the annual crane aerial survey or the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme, please contact Tanya Smith on tanyas@ewt.org.za

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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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.