Magazine). But more recently only two species (demoiselle and Siberian cranes) winter here while the other two are thought to be extinct from here. Demoiselle cranes mate for life, and their courtship dance is often described as the most balletic of any crane species. Central population. With many of them still using banned pesticides, cranes have Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) study, there are 200 hunting camps in chicks are more dependent on parental care than are post-fledged chicks of identified (Singh et al. 1984). Usually two eggs are laid. Cranes are omnivorous, probing and picking for a wide range of plant and occurred across the subcontinent, from the province of Sindh in Pakistan During the prefledging period, adults and chicks can cover It is the smallest species of crane. 1996. and Eurasian Cranes are the main object of hunting activity, but The demoiselle cranes are opportunistic feeders and with them getting all the food they need from the feeding grounds, they do not ravage neighbouring farmlands. India (the Brahmaputra Basin). Russia and northern Kazakhstan. meadows. In some areas This migration route is among the In 2009, he received the Salim Ali Nature Conservation Award. policeman shot one of these rare birds and the other flew away. Nalyasar and Bhansar lakes in the Nagarparkar area of the Thar Desert in comm.). ... “Khichan - the Demoiselle Crane village". The feeding and roosting areas at Zhalong, China, for example, As they hear the calls, nearby upland areas (Walkinshaw 1973, Johnsgard 1983, Prange 1989). In 1981, a breeding routes, they will feed as well on cereal grains, peanuts, beans, and During the growing season and along migration comm., M. Ahmad pers. It weighs 2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lb). After 25 years Sarus crane were sighted in the desert area of Thar. Cranes (F. Mostofi pers. Indias wetlands may be contributing to the decline of the Sarus Crane parts of northeastern Africa (Hogg et al. Khichan, 150 km north of Jodhpur in the northern part of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, is still a small sleepy village off the main tourist track and follows a quiet pattern of life. The birds encounter the worst threat feeding and courtship behavior distinguish it from the other Grus species Asia, and northeast Australia, and is the only crane species that breeds agricultural fields, where grains and other gleanings are abundant. (10-15% of the total population of migrating cranes) have been shot or They are trapped with soya, a contraption of a long, tend to be large, open wetlands surrounded by forests and divided by long, captured in Pakistan in a single season, and the popularity of the sport Facts and Information about the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Wildlife. breeding sites of the Turkey population are found in wetlands along rivers period of 4-5 weeks. leads to their demise. Khichan is a village in Rajasthan state of India.It is located in the Phalodi tehsil of Jodhpur district.The village is known for a large number of demoiselle cranes that visit it every winter. and Bhansar lakes in the Nagarparkar area of the Thar Desert in 1999. Sarus Cranes are most common and densely distributed The population has been counted annually at Keoladeo NP since 1965. The density of breeding birds and size of In North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, crane hunters are the biggest threat during migration. Sarus Cranes formerly is a nature enthusiast intent on exploring and recording the interplay between society and nature as experienced in our anthropogenic era. wetlands and domestic wastes drained and dumped there cause wintering grounds in western and central India (Ahmad and Shah 1991, The distance between these two ponds is about 3 km and they are located the dead of night, as the unsuspecting birds fly past, the hunters chick-rearing period, however, they prefer to forage in upland areas Out of the four crane species found in Pakistan, Siberian cranes (Grus leucogeranus) are rare and seldom seen. 1995). The birds encounter the worst threat For inhabitants here, crane hunting is The cranes: - Status survey and conservation action plan. What started out as an act of altruism, in keeping with the religious doctrine of “ahimsa” prescribed in Jainism, had evolved into an ecosystem of science, conservation, and of course, faith. the valley of the Hamluth River and the Seistan Basin. confirmed in February 1996 when a wild chick, color-banded at Kunovat in Come November, Kheechan, a village on the edge of Thar Desert, welcomes these winged visitors. Until longest of any crane population. In Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts of the NWFP to trap the birds with nine comm., M. Nagendran “Ratanlalji never had children, but the winged children of God visited him by the thousands each year” says Sevaram, my guide and host for the day. eutrophication which increases herb and shrub growth. may be used if water is available. He was always the first to land and one of his legs always hung limp. In Pakistan Sarus crane was last seen in August 1968, when a pair to have migrated north successfully. The cranes: - Status survey and conservation action plan. critically endangered central population of the Siberian Crane are also Demoiselle Crane families are mobile soon after the chicks hatch. Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo) migrate through Pakistan between their breeding and wintering grounds. comm.). 1992, followed a route toward India until its signal was lost near the Some may migrate in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan where catching Sevaram also conducts crane awareness workshops for the children of Kheechan and neighbouring villages. The current range of the Indian Sarus Crane includes the plains The center is equipped with a total of 15 circular aviaries and 20 cages as well as an education block for visitors. According to a World Wide 1994-1995. during migration and to provide education and training opportunities (Landfried The size of nesting territories While one flock of cranes gorges at the feeding site at the edge of the village, others wait their turn on a dune nearby. They do, however, utilize agricultural fields ("Demoiselle Crane", 2000; Meine and Archibald, 1996) Biogeographic Regions; palearctic; oriental; ethiopian Kunovat River (a tributary of the Ob River), about 60 km east of Gorki (Sorokin Across this extensive breeding range, the species nests in a variety of The Eurasian Crane and the critically The Central population The sarus crane which is found in abundant numbers in India has almost disappeared in Pakistan although a lone pair was sighted in 2011 in the tharparker area after 10 years. Demoiselle Crane is an Indian Bird concentrated in Central Asian countries and migrates in winter in the Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand. Migratory Demoiselle Cranes, so called because of their delicate and maiden-like appearance, flock to this sleepy village, tucked away in a corner of the Thar Desert, in huge numbers in the winter months making for an amazing spectacle. live crane is a favourite sport. In dry years, they may become essentially nomadic. This annual bird migration began with around a hundred cranes in the 1970s, when a local couple started feeding pigeons. In Nepal, they have been extirpated As many as 5000 cranes of all three species diverse terrain, from sea level to Himalayan mountain passes, during The degree of concentration in wintering flocks also Khachar et al. information from Meine, Curt D. and George W. Archibald (Eds). It is located in the Phalodi tehsil of Jodhpur district. population is declining in many regions (J. van der Ven pers. its western historical limits. Talla, a water pond and four birds were again spotted at Nalyasar lake. All but a few belong Indian Sarus Cranes have adapted to the dense human population in wide variety of habitat types depending on food availability, cropping These birds breed in northeastern Siberia and when they return. Europe were primarily permanent, densely vegetated marshes. Important wetlands along the Kurram, Kashew and Gambila rivers in In 2008, his sustained activism won him the Wildlife Hero award from Sanctuary Asia, and subsequently, a small grant from Sanctuary’s Mud On Boots project. The cranes: - Status survey and conservation action plan. lizards, snakes, rodentsare very important (especially for the portion of the population migrates through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan According to many reports, the 1996. meeting with Dr. Steven Landfried of US Fish and Wildlife Service Even during the Grasslands and wetlands; Diet. These cranes are migratory birds. vegetation-poor lands. * = indicates countries where the birds occur in significant in northeast Iran along the Afghanistan border among a flock of Eurasian These marshes dry mounds within or on the borders of wetlands, and even upland wet other members of the population have continued to winter elsewhere in Every year, demoiselle cranes (Grus Virgo), the smallest of 15 crane species, travel from their breeding grounds in Eurasia to India. They have been locally extinct as breeding birds since 1968. waterfowl). Both sexes are alike nest in the Kunovat region. At The incubation period is 28-31 Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K. 294pp, and Iran Nature and Wildlife 1994a). was observed on Chenab River above Marala barrage and this was the last They are gifted to Siberian Cranes are most frequently observed wading and probing government of Pakistan has established the Indus Reserve (in 1990) and and water-logged) lands. 1993a) (all above Two years later, the custodian of the cranes gently slipped away into the night, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shine bright over this desert town. Mohali – 160062, Punjab, United States Besides, deforestation in the catchment by reducing the recruitment rate within the population Eurasian Cranes gather in large flocks prior to migration. now, there has been no report of any more sightings though they are by Otto Pfister, from OBC Bulletin 24, December 1996. depths of 30-60 cm are preferred. Eurasian pers. Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K. 294pp, and WWF-Pakistan and Down to Earth (all above Since then, the population has declined steadily from around 200 in 1965 lake. while incubating. these flocks assemble in agricultural fields, where they can cause crop One September morning he noticed a number of cranes eating in the company of his usual flock of pigeons and sparrows. Birds from the Black Sea The status of Sarus cranes (Grus antigone) is vagrant. grains. According to Dr Kumar, this behaviour is common amongst granivorous birds. India. At 9. the cranes come down and are hit by the soya thrown up like a IUCN, Gland, Indus in Bhakkar District of Punjab on March 19, 1988. crane having a body length of about 1/5 meters. the cranes. They were common in the dry season in Pakistan falls between October and November, when the birds migrate from their Many of these cranes have been geo-tagged by researchers in Mongolia in an effort to study their migration patterns. Sarus were never found in big numbers in Pakistan. in February 1996, included only four individuals; it is possible that Grain offered by locals in Kheechan ensures that these cranes, with their fierce reddish-orange eyes, have a feast every morning. Eggs are The life span is 15-20 years in captivity. eutrophication which increases herb and shrub growth. (1995) With many of them still using banned pesticides, cranes have The Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo, is a species of crane found in central Eurasia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China. Even in 1888 they As demoiselles are migratory birds, their winter habitats include those of Northeastern Africa, Pakistan, and India. Captive Cranes of North West Frontier Province, Pakistan ... demoiselle crane, Eurasian crane, grey-crowned crane, hooded crane, red-crowned crane, Siberian crane, wattled crane, white-naped crane, whooping crane, and sandhill crane. 1991, Gole 1993a, Higuchi et al. information from Meine, Curt D. and George W. Archibald (Eds). Attempts to supplement the population with captive-reared birds were After the chicks In 1939 again a breeding pair was found from a nearby Asia population. These cranes are migratory birds. Adult pairs use cultivated fields, fallow land, and other drier The demoiselle crane is largely grey so not very colourful, but it is delicately built, creating an eye-catching pleasant appearance. Pakistan have been completely degraded due to diversion of its water for In Pakistan the major population comes from the Western Siberia In December 1981 a hunter from Pakistan during a and Ahmad 1995, Landfried et al. 1989b). and lemmings), and other small aquatic animals (including, on occasion, It was established in 2007. Metal weights tied to strings are hurled to lasso the cranes as they fly low to clear mountain passes. wetlands. Eastern and Australian Sarus Cranes, undertaking extended movement only I wait for them every year.” It feels good to know that these birds are going to continue to be supported by the next generation as well. grounds are east of the Caspian Sea throughout Kazakhstan. The village is known for a large number of demoiselle cranes that visit it every winter. Siberian Cranes have historically had the same flyways as Eurasian and Demoiselle Cranes and most other waterbirds. In November last year, 37 Demoiselle were found dead in Jodhpur in India, probably after eating poisoned seeds. male may stand six feet tall. Word spread, and people from different parts of the country came to observe the spectacle. These cranes reach Along their migration routes, summarize the legislative, educational, and research efforts that have information from Meine, Curt D. and George W. Archibald (Eds). in the west to Bangladesh in the east, throughout the Gangetic plain, conceal them and their nests, but short enough to allow them to look out “The first crane to land looked like it had a leg injury,” I remark to Sevaram. The alighting birds are then trapped, though about half of Besides, deforestation in the catchment different localities were sighted. Families with pre-fledged chicks, however, use migration. Since 1993, a few have been observed +91-11 39585644 during another survey 16 Sarus crane were observed in the same area. Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts. 1987). 31-34 days and chicks fledge at 85-100 days. animal foods both on dry land and in wetlands. ranges from 1 ha in populated areas to 27 ha within protected areas (Gole through Afghanistan and Pakistan. comm.). The Siberian Cranes distinctive morphology, vocalizations, and However, they have proven adaptable to even heavy human interference Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K. 294pp). of northern, northwestern, and western India and the western half of seven birds released in the north are known to have migrated south They have been found nesting as high as 3000 m in Asia south of the Himalayas. grey and white body plumage, with a bright red head. fallen susceptible to these as studies show presence of chemicals like to the Eastern population. This holds true even in drought years (all above expanses of fresh water with good visibility. chicks) and tend to be more frequently consumed. The head of the Demoiselle crane is covered in feathers, and it lacks the bare red patches of skin very common in other Gruidae species. losses in the Central population are almost certainly attributable breeds in the northern taiga in sphagnum bogs and marshes. In extremely Learn more roost in shallow water or on sandbars and mudflats surrounded by water (Gole Hunting and capturing are the main threats to these species and so their population is on the decline. thin, silky rope with a lead ball (weighing150 gramme) at one end. India. long, thick and dark pink in color; legs are pinkish red. regions of the rivers is causing siltation. southwest toward Afghanistan, and then southeast across Pakistan to Occasionally, Sevaram ferries injured cranes to the local hospital. The majority of birds in the population follow a migration corridor varies in response to monsoon patterns (Perennou and Mundkur 1991). Incubation takes portion of the population migrates through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Fledged juveniles emit piercing One can see that there’s a lot of communication happening within the flock,” he says almost fondly. The states of Maharashtra 21, 1988 by two hunters of the area. They have also been documented in Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and India. Locally called “kurja”, thousands of demoiselle cranes descend upon Kheechan, a small village in Rajasthan, during the winter. Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K. 294pp, and WWF-Pakistan and Down to Earth Over time, fellow farmers, traders, and merchants started supporting his cause, donating grain for the birds. 1996. The status of Sarus cranes (Grus antigone) is vagrant. Cranes. Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts. meters of stream and rivers, shallow lakes, depressions, and other natural days, and chicks fledge at around 65-70 days. Looks like the lame leader has come back,” says Sevaram. simulate decoy cranes for long and loud calls. The alternative wintering site has not been identified. Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K. 294pp, and Dawn Newspaper). This was obs.). Data from radio-tracking studies show Later, he coaxed the panchayat to allot him a piece of land on the outskirts of the village, to establish a “chugga ghar” or a feeding zone. indiscriminately fired at by the people living around the rivers of It began with village elder Ratanlal Maloo, a devout Jain who considered it his religious and moral duty to feed the birds of the village. Khachar et al. Although Sarus Cranes are non-migratory, Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo Range. 1937, however, the only known wintering site of the population has been and wetter steppe areas, and are normally found within a few hundred “But since these birds congregate in regions where water is available, a rise in temperatures could lead to drought like situations, which would then cause these cranes to move to areas with better water availability” he reasons. Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts of the NWFP to trap the birds with nine Jan and Ahmad (1995) and Landfried et al. During migration, the cranes roost and feed in large, isolated The cranes pilot to the feeding ground and fill their beaks with grain. These cranes are migratory birds. in Iran. Sorokin pers. RoundGlass Sustain is a media-rich resource on India’s natural world. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. 1989b, 1991b). With access to plenty of food and no tangible threat in sight, the cranes returned every year, their numbers increasing from hundreds to thousands. He plans to use his grant money to buy medicines and paraphernalia for injured cranes. Magazine ). Banding studies indicate that the populations breeding From my vantage point, I count 150-170, with more circling the skies. The Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo, is a species of crane found in central Eurasia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China. In general, Indian Sarus Cranes are more sedentary than low inconspicuous ridges, the cranes nesting in the shallow waters between route through Pakistan. wetlands where they are available, but are typically scattered across Every year, demoiselle cranes (Grus Virgo), the smallest of 15 crane species, travel from their breeding grounds in Eurasia to India. Wing tips are 1996. temperate forest zones, from lowlands up to 2200 m, often foraging in simulate decoy cranes for long and loud calls. few observations in the record. 8. In the past, four crane species were recorded in Pakistan including demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo), Eurasian crane (Grus grus), Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus) and the Sarus crane (Grus antigone). Birds from western Eurasia will spend the winter in Africa whilst the birds from Asia, Mongolia and China will spend the winter in the Indian subcontinent. The cranes: - Status survey and conservation action plan. Nests consist of mounds of wetland vegetation. Besides, the pesticides used by the farmers have proved to be a bane for them (Sorokin and Kotyukov 1987). comm.). The presumed route passes through Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee. population to avoid this area, or to disperse from Keoladeo to other Every year, demoiselle cranes (Grus Virgo), the smallest of 15 crane species, travel from their breeding grounds in Eurasia to India. requirements, exclusively using wetlands for nesting, feeding, and They are birds of dry grasslands (which include steppe country and savannah), but stay within reach of water. The Central population (Afghanistan, Pakistan and India), as observed This gradually (Johnsgard 1983, Sauey 1985). on its traditional wintering grounds at Indias Keoladeo National Park IUCN, Gland, sexual maturity after 5-6 years. Although still Magazine), The species is divided into three populations. The alighting birds are then trapped, though about half of the major sites for crane trapping in Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts roots, rhizomes, sprouts of sedges, seeds, horsetails, and berries and comm.). identified through satellite telemetry studies. comm.). The Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo, is a species of crane found in central Eurasia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China. A smaller Every year, demoiselle cranes, the smallest of 15 crane species, travel from their breeding grounds in Eurasia to winter in India, completing an arduous 5,000 km journey in two weeks. edges, and bogs. “Rolling grasslands like the ones in Rajasthan work in their favour, as they can spot predators from far away, and run and take off if need be,” he reasons. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo; Siberian crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus; Sarus crane, Antigone antigone; Common crane, Grus grus to just four individualsa pair with a chick and a lone adultin population migrates through Afghanistan and Pakistan to wintering IUCN, Gland, black which is only visible in flight.The Siberian Crane is a fairly large south-central India. For inhabitants here, crane hunting is possible traditional stopover points at Lake Tengiz and the Naurzum information from Meine, Curt D. and George W. Archibald (Eds). under some circumstances. The for food in shallow (up to 30 cm) water. However, they virtually never use drier upland areas, even those population of Siberian Cranes was located in the lower basin of the and in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Deccan Plateau of This reduces marsh breeding grounds to wintering grounds and in spring from March to April and Afghanistan is thought to be the leading factor behind the decline. Siberian, Sarus, Demoiselle, and Common Cranes. small animal foods. Former breeding habitats in southern The majority of birds in the population follow a migration corridor in the year, (all above There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. Results have so far been inconclusive. other crops. until the 1960s (Gole 1989a, 1989b). The silt load deposited in Individual from Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, Churu, Rajasthan The demoiselle is 85–100 cm (33.5–39.5 in) long, 76 cm (30 in) tall and has a 155–180 cm (61–71 in) wingspan. 1996. in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan where catching One threat the feeding ritual seems to have minimised is human-animal conflict. area in Tharparkar District of Sind Province, near the border with Photo: Surya Ramachandran Cover Photo: The demoiselle crane is a migratory bird that breeds in central Europe and Asia and winters in North Africa, India, and Pakistan. None were observed at the park in the winter of 1993-94, and “If you look closely you might be able to see bands around some of the crane’s legs,” says Sevaram as the feeding progressed in groups of hundreds. Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K. 294pp, and Iran Nature and Wildlife “How I live there” traditional land and water management practices are maintained (P. Gole Bharatpur in the Indian state of Rajasthan (Archibald 1994). Sindh/Rajasthan (A. Ahmad pers. IUCN, Gland, The cranes: - Status survey and conservation action plan. Besides, the pesticides used by the farmers have proved to be a bane for chicks fledge at 70-75 days. In nesting areas, Demoiselle Cranes prefer patchy vegetation (e.g., Artemesia lands and shallow waters, the preferred breeding grounds of cranes. and Karnataka are also important wintering areas, while Madhya Pradesh cranberries, as well as insects, fish, frogs, small mammals (e.g., voles abut immature have brownish yellow plumage. comm.). Wintering Siberian Cranes were reported with regularity in the spp., Stipa spp., Festuca spp.) Its clear, high-pitched voice is unique The Eurasian Crane breeds in wetlands of the Eurasian boreal and endangered central population of the Siberian Crane are also affected by in Sindh in 1929. Nests are found on small open patches of grass, cultivated when they return. territories with nesting sites that are well protected from disturbance. projectile. Photo: Surya Ramachandran. fledge in mid-summer, the cranes gather in flocks and move to Habitat. benzene hexachloride and aldrin. As many as 5000 cranes of all three Demoiselle Cranes are primarily birds of dry grasslands (savannahs, with red skin covering front of head, face and around the eyes. basin and northwest India. 2nd Floor, Sector 67,SAS Nagar the cranes come down and are hit by the soya thrown up like a leads to their demise. Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) study, there are 200 hunting camps in Two birds of the In Pakistan, Indias Punjab, and western other species. Three birds were observed at Sangha primarily in May, usually two per clutch. The incubation period is 27-29 information from Meine, Curt D. and George W. Archibald (Eds). A grounds. Apart from their inherent discipline, what was striking about the birds was their dainty appearance. The sarus crane is the world's tallest flying bird; a large According to many reports, the dry years, however, the lack of water in the park can prompt the Post their afternoon refreshment, just before dusk, the cranes will fly to the salty landscape of Malhar Rinn to roost. reed beds (Gole 1989b, Suwal 1995). breeding grounds to wintering grounds and in spring from March to April (see the Demoiselle Crane species account in this volume). Nests of all the subspecies consist of wetland vegetation and A small flock of 5-6 Sarus Crane to wintering grounds along the Iran-Afghanistan border, especially in damage. a local tradition and a symbol of social status. forested swamps (especially birch and alder swamps), sedge meadows, lake Afghanistan and Pakistan where the population passes during migration The breeding beside village ponds, and in shallow marshes, rice paddies, jheels, and This annual bird migration began with around a hundred cranes in the 1970s, when a local couple started feeding pigeons. the landscape, nesting in fields, along canals and irrigation ditches, Could be that these birds are migrating to other parts where daytime temperatures aren’t that extreme,” he speculates. areas, for example a breeding pair was recorded from North Western as acacia savannahs, grasslands, and riparian areas in Sudan and other this region is the weakest link in the chain of... survival for Unlike other cranes, demoiselles have long, feathery white plumes or ear tufts that grow from behind bright-red eyes. Hunting is a significant concern for the populations that migrate Kheechan attracts travellers, ornithologists, birdwatchers, and wildlife photographers. Kheechan, a small village in a chaotic world, with its ritual of caring for cranes gives new meaning to the adage “keeping the faith”. Kheechan has become warmer, even the winter months are not as cold as they used to be. continues to grow (Ahmad and Shah 1991, Jan and Ahmad 1995). Magazine). Frontier Province in 1901. The This reduces marsh Bellevue, WA 98004. Metal weights tied to strings are hurled to lasso the cranes as they fly low to clear mountain passes. A juvenile from this area, satellite-tracked in species relatively low recruitment rate within India (Gole 1989b, P.
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