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.
.