Inspired by our visit to the International Crane Foundation (ICF), here are a bunch of crane facts. Enjoy!
- There are 15 species of cranes in the world
- Cranes are found on all continents but Antarctica and South America
- It is a mystery why cranes do not live in South America; no fossils have been found there (yet)
- Cranes are divided into four genera
- Eleven species of crowned cranes once existed in Europe and North America but most likely went extinct as the earth cooled
- Six species of cranes are considered endangered: Blue, Red-crowned, Sarus, Siberian, Wattled, and Whooping
- Five species of cranes are considered vulnerable: Black Crowned, Black-necked, Grey Crowned, Hooded, and White-naped
- Red Crowned Cranes are the second rarest crane
- North America has 2 species of cranes: Whooping and Sandhill
- Sandhill Cranes are the most abundant of the cranes with a population around 650,000
- “Mississippi” Sandhill Cranes are also considered endangered
- “Florida” Sandhill Cranes are threatened {these two are subspecies of Sandhill Cranes}
- The International Crane Foundation began in 1973
- George Archibald and Ron Sauey desired to create a “species bank” of all the world’s cranes
- In 1974 “George Archibald discovered and studied white-naped cranes on their wintering grounds in Korea, then led a successful campaign to save the Han Rive estuary – a critical wintering and migratory area located in the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas.” – ICF
- In 1976 ICF hatched the first Hooded Crane ever in captivity
- In 1981 (my birth year) ICF hatched the first ever Siberian Crane in captivity
- In 1985 ICF became the first facility to have all 15 species of cranes
- In the 1990s ICF worked with Russia and China to protect the “Amur River, the largest undimmed river in the world, which forms the international border for over 1,000 miles.” – ICF
- In 1993 ICF was the first location to breed all 15 species of cranes in captivity
- In 1994 “ICF began in innovative community-based conservation and economic development project in south-central China for the villagers living at the Cao Hai Nature Reserve, home to black-necked and Eurasian cranes.” – ICF
- In 2001 “ICF became involved in reestablishing an eastern population of whooping cranes by using ultralight aircraft to guide young cranes on migration from Wisconsin to Florida.” – ICF
- In 2003 “ICF receives a Global Environment Fund (GEF) grant for the conservation of major wetlands used by Siberian cranes in western and eastern Asia.” – ICF
- Sarus Cranes are the tallest crane at six feet
- They are also the tallest flying bird in the world
- Red-crowned Cranes are the heaviest cranes reaching 26 pounds
- The most serious threat to Black Crowned Cranes is illegal capture for the pet trade
- The Brolga has a gland by their eye that allows them to secrete salt from the salt water they drink
- The Demoiselle Crane was named by Queen Marie Antoinette due to the birds “maiden-like appearance”
- Eurasian Cranes can be found in over 80 countries
- “Siberian Cranes are the most highly specialized member of the crane family in terms of habitat requirements, morphology, vocalizations, and behavior” – ICF
- Male cranes are usually larger than females
- Red-crowned Cranes are a Japanese symbol of longevity
- Cranes are often mistaken for herons (or egrets)
- The best way to distinguish them in flight is that herons fly with a curved neck while cranes fly straight-necked
- The Ainu of Hokkaido (an indigenous people of Japan) call the Red-crowned Crane sarurun kamui, “God of the Marsh”
- All cranes are omnivorous
- Cranes will eat a lot of seeds and vegetation but will also eat rodents, fish, insects, and even other birds
- Cranes will feed at agricultural sights and are sometimes thought of as pests to farmers
- ICF is working to implement treated corn seed to farmers; Sandhill Cranes avoid the treated food but will forage in fields (non-destructively) on other foods
- Cranes can be of service to farmers as they will eat vermin and insects that would forage on crops
- “In Ethiopia, Wattled Cranes take advantage of beetle larvae and other invertebrates that occur in the spoil heaps created by the giant molerat!” – ICF
- Cranes face a variety of predators, mostly as unfledged young, where raccoons, fox, wolves, and even bear prey on them
- Large birds of prey like Golden Eagles can take down adult birds
- However, humans are the biggest predatory threat to cranes
- Cranes roost at night in shallow water; the splashing water alerts them to potential danger
- Cranes to not have red feathers but instead have bare patches of skin that are red
- These red skin patches are used for displays when guarding territory
- Cranes will use a variety of low-intensity threats to mark their territory including “threat walk”, “ruffle threat”, and “flap display”
- Cranes also have various higher intensity threats including an “arch display” where the bird extends its wings to appear bigger
- Cranes will use a “unison call” where both male and female call together to defend their territory and reinforce their bond
- Cranes will use “distraction displays” to ward off intruders around their young
- Cranes will even use the commonly known “broken wing display” where they feign injury to mislead a predator
- Cranes use “guard calls” where a single bird bugles loudly to scare away predators and warn other cranes of danger
- Cranes are famous for their elaborate dancing, much of which has been imitated by cultures for hundreds of years
- These wild dances can involve jumping and even stick tossing
- Cranes form lifelong monogamous bonds (usually)
- Crane incubation lasts around 30 days in most species
- Siberian Cranes migrate 10,000 miles round trip
- Eurasian Cranes can fly higher than 30,000 feet
- Cranes do not breed until they are 3-5 years old
- The rarer species usually rear only one young per breeding cycle; more common ones will rear two
- The first Hooded Crane nest was not discovered until 1974 due to their remote habitat
- Siberian Cranes migrate from Russia to winter in India’s Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
- Cranes live up to 20-30 years in the wild
- The oldest captive crane, a Siberian Crane named Wolf, lived to be 83!!
Have a crane fact you want to share? Let us know!! And don’t forget to check out Whooping Crane Facts for a bunch of info specific to one of North America’s most endangered birds! Much of these facts are from the International Crane Foundation’s excellent website.
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