There are 15
crane species in the world and all of them are endangered. One of the main
reasons for this is that cranes are intimately linked to the grassland and
wetlands. Human impacts are degrading these ecosystems at a rapid rate and
cranes are paying the price.
South Africa is home to three crane species - The
Wattled, Blue and Grey-Crowned Crane. These elegant birds are amongst the
tallest flying birds, with long legs and necks and distinctive head and facial
features. An estimated 50% percent of South Africa’s wetlands have
already been destroyed. This has resulted in our wetland-dependent cranes also
disappearing at a rapid rate. They all
need our help.
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 our national bird, 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.
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.