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Showing posts with label BLUE CRANE (Anthropoides paradiseus). Show all posts
Showing posts with label BLUE CRANE (Anthropoides paradiseus). Show all posts

Friday, 30 June 2023

9-6-2023 MANDAI BIRD PARADISE, SINGAPORE - BLUE CRANE (Anthropoides paradiseus)


The blue crane (Grus paradisea), also known as the Stanley crane and the paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.


Blue cranes are birds of the dry grassy uplands, usually the pastured grasses of hills, valleys, and plains with a few scattered trees. They prefer areas in the nesting season that have access to both upland and wetland areas, though they feed almost entirely in dry areas. They are altitudinal migrants, generally nesting in the lower grasslands of an elevation of around 1,300 to 2,000 m and moving down to lower altitudes for winter.


Of the 15 species of crane, the blue crane has the most restricted distribution of all. Even species with lower population numbers now (such as Siberian or whooping cranes) are found over a considerable range in their migratory movements. The blue crane is migratory, primarily altitudinal, but details are little known.

The blue crane is partially social, less so during the breeding season. There is a strict hierarchy in groups, with the larger adult males being dominant. They overlap in range with three other crane species but interactions with these species and other "large wader" type birds are not known. They are aggressively protective of their nesting sites during the nesting season, even attacking innocent, non-predatory animals such as antelope, cattle, tortoises, plovers and the smallest of birds, such as sparrows. Humans are also attacked if they approach a nest too closely, with the aggressive male having torn clothes and drawn blood in such cases. Threats to their eggs and chicks include large savannah and white-throated monitor lizards, egg-eating snakes, foxes, jackals, birds-of-prey, meerkats, and mongoose.


While it remains common in parts of its historic range, and approx. 26 000 individuals remain, it began a sudden population decline from around 1980 and is now classified as vulnerable.

In the last two decades, the blue crane has largely disappeared from the Eastern Cape, Lesotho, and Eswatini. The population in the northern Free State, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Province has declined by up to 90%. The majority of the remaining population is in eastern and southern South Africa, with a small and separate population in the Etosha Pan of northern Namibia. Occasionally, isolated breeding pairs are found in five neighbouring countries.

The primary causes of the sudden decline of the blue crane are human population growth, the conversion of grasslands into commercial tree plantations, and poisoning: deliberate (to protect crops) or accidental (baits intended for other species, and as a side-effect of crop dusting).

The South African government has stepped up legal protection for the blue crane. Other conservation measures are focusing on research, habitat management, education, and recruiting the help of private landowners.


 

Saturday, 5 May 2018

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN, CAPE TOWN - BLUE CRANE (Anthropoides paradiseus)


The blue crane (Grus paradisea), also known as the Stanley crane or paradise crane, stands as a symbol of elegance in the avian world. This species, while tall and ground-dwelling, is relatively small for a crane, measuring between 100 to 120 cm in height, with a wingspan stretching from 180 to 200 cm. The blue crane tips the scales at a modest 3.6 to 6.2 kg. Its plumage is primarily a pale blue-gray, darkening towards the upper head, neck, and nape. A lighter, sometimes whitish hue graces the area from the crown to the lores. The bill presents an ochre to greyish color, occasionally with a pinkish cast. Notably, it boasts elongated wingtip feathers that elegantly trail to the ground. The primaries are a stark black to slate grey, with dark coverts and similarly shaded secondaries. This crane is distinguished by its relatively large head and slender neck. Juveniles share a resemblance to adults but are marked by a lighter tinge and lack the mature long wing plumes.

When observing the blue crane, look for its distinctive pale blue-gray coloration and the long wingtip feathers that sweep the ground. The bird's large head and thin neck set it apart from other cranes. Juveniles can be identified by their lighter color and the absence of elongated wing plumes.

The blue crane favors the dry grassy uplands, often found in pastured grasses of hills, valleys, and plains dotted with occasional trees. During nesting season, they show a preference for areas that provide access to both upland and wetland environments, though their feeding habits are almost exclusively in dry regions.

This crane is an altitudinal migrant, typically nesting in grasslands at elevations of 1,300 to 2,000 meters and descending to lower altitudes during winter. The blue crane has a restricted distribution, primarily found in eastern and southern South Africa, with a smaller, isolated population in the Etosha Pan of northern Namibia.


The blue crane exhibits partial sociability, becoming less so during breeding season. A strict hierarchy exists within groups, with larger adult males asserting dominance. While they share their range with other crane species, their interactions remain a mystery. Notably aggressive during nesting season, they will defend their territory against a variety of intruders, including humans.

The blue crane's breeding season is marked by a distinct seasonality, with eggs laid between October and March. Courtship involves a captivating dance where the male flings objects into the air and leaps skyward. After selecting a mate, the pair will engage in this dance before mating. Typically, two eggs are laid, incubated by both parents, with the male often taking the night shift. Chicks are precocial, walking within two days and swimming shortly after. They fledge at 3 to 5 months of age but remain under parental care until the following breeding season.

The blue crane forages primarily on the ground, consuming a diet dominated by grasses and sedges. Insects, particularly large grasshoppers, also feature in their diet, along with small animals like crabs, snails, frogs, lizards, and snakes, which are especially important for feeding their young.

The blue crane is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. A sudden population decline began around 1980, with significant losses in several regions. The species faces threats from habitat conversion, human population growth, and both accidental and deliberate poisoning. Conservation efforts include legal protection, research, habitat management, and education, with the support of private landowners being crucial.