The Common Crane - Grus grus - are thought to have gone extinct as a breeding bird in the UK around 400 years ago.

In 1979, three of these migrant birds spent the winter in the Norfolk Broads in the east of the UK. These three pioneering cranes liked what they found and stayed put, and the population slowly but steadily grew through immigration of more young birds and more recently through breeding and the production of young to add to the population.

The UK population is still centred in Norfolk, but birds have now also bred in Suffolk and on Humberside with the current population around 50 resident birds.  Unlike all other cranes on the continent, the UK birds are resident and do not migrate away from the UK for the winter.

The Great Crane Project will be introducing a further 100 resident birds between 2010 and 2015 and help to secure the future of the species in the UK.

The Common Crane - Grus grus - also known as the Eurasian Crane, a large, stately bird. It is a medium-sized crane found in Europe and Asia. It is a long distance migrant wintering in north, southern Europe, and southern Asia.

Description

It is grey with a white facial streak and a bunch of black wing plumes. Adults have a red crown patch.

Call

It has a loud trumpeting call, given in flight and display.

Food

It is omnivorous, eating leaves, roots, insects, small birds and mammals.

Breeding

Breeds in large areas of marsh and bog. On ground or in shallow water, usually on low mound or ridge. Nest is re-used in successive years. Constructed of a large pile of available vegetation with shallow cup in the top. Two eggs, variable in colour - from buff to olive to red-brown (sometimes blue-grey) with dark brown or red-brown blotches, laid in April to June. Incubation takes 28-31 days. Young fledge after 65-70 days. 1 brood per year.

Conservation Status – Least Concern

The overall population trend is uncertain, as some populations are decreasing, while others are increasing, stable or have unknown trends.

Birdwatching

Possibly the best place in Britain to view wild common cranes in winter is NWT Hickling Broad. Between November and February from the Stubb Mill raptor roost viewpoint, common cranes can be seen coming in to roost at sunset.