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Sandhill Crane Festival

Editor — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:11:18 +0000

For many years Sandhill Cranes have migrated to the delta wetlands where Lodi is now located. Every year thousands of birders visit Lodi’s wildlife refuges and farms to view this natural wonder, and the annual Sandhill Crane Festival is a wonderful time to do this. The festival schedule is made up of tours, workshops and the Sandhill Crane Festival Art show. Featured speakers for the event will be Dr. Richard Beilfuss (International Crane Foundation) and Hank Lentfer (author of “Faith of Cranes: Finding Hope and Family in Alaska”). This festival is a wonderful celebration of these elegant birds and a great opportunity to expand your birding horizons.

Date: 4 to 6 November 2011
Venue: Hutchins Street Square
City: Lodi
State: California
Country: United States of America

41st Annual Rivers and Wildlife Celebration

Editor — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:56:49 +0000

Presented by Audubon Nebraska, Nebraska Bird Partnership and Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, the Rivers and Wildlife Celebration sees bird and wildlife enthusiasts gathering to celebrate the migration of waterfowl and 500 000 sandhill cranes through central Nebraska. Visitors to the event can enjoy crane viewing, excursions to wetlands and lakes and The Wild Experience Room. Keynote speakers will be David yarnold, Dr. Richard Beilfuss and Rick Wright.

Date: 17 to 20 March 2011
Venue: Holiday Inn Convention Center
City: Kearney
State: Nebraska
Country: United States of America

U-Z

Editor — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:51:33 +0000

Bird Species U-Z

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Whooping Crane (Grus americana)

Editor — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:50:35 +0000

Named for its whooping call, the Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is unique in a number of ways. Firstly, at 1.5 meters in height with a wingspan of 2.3 meters, this beautiful bird is the tallest bird in North America. It is also unique in that it is the only crane species that is found exclusively in North America. However, despite their immense size, Whooping Cranes are an endangered species. When counted in 1995, there were 149 Whooping Cranes in the US. This is quite an increase from the 14-16 that were around in the 1940s but a far cry from the 1,500 or so that inhabited parts of western Canada and the US in the 1800s. Fortunately conservations efforts have been largely successful and there are currently more than 320 Whooping Cranes in the world.

Because of their immense size, Whooping Cranes are easily identifiable. They are very large birds with long legs and a long neck. Their dark bills are long and pointed and their long dark legs trail behind them when they fly. Whooping Cranes tend to hold their necks straight, both when resting and during flight, instead of adopting the S-like bend that many other long-necked birds make use of. Adults have a red crown and entirely white plumage. There is a bit of black near the base of their bills which extends onto the cheeks somewhat. You might also spot black wing tips when the adult bird is in flight. Juvenile birds have a white body with scattered brown feathers as well as a pale brown head and neck.

The Whooping Crane prefers to make use of ‘muskegs’ for breeding purposes. Currently there is only one known nesting location – that of Wood Buffalo National Park which is in Canada. The Whooping Crane nests on the ground in a marshy area. The female lays 1-3 eggs and both the male and female raise the young. Whooping cranes generally mate for life. Usually only one bird survives and the weaker is starved to death or pushed out the nest. Whooping Cranes are omnivorous and they eat snails, insects, leeches, minnows, frogs, small rodents, waste grain, plant roots and berries. They may scavenge on dead birds or muskrats, and in Texas they have been known to eat snakes, acorns, wild fruit, small fish and shellfish. Most of their food is obtained by foraging in shallow water or in fields. The main reason for this bird’s dwindling numbers is that of habitat loss. Fortunately several conservation projects have resulted in varying measures of success but the bird still has a long way to go before it is no longer considered to be an endangered species.

Operation Migration Continues Despite Challenges

Editor — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:52:04 +0000

A while back a feel-good family movie called “Fly Away Home” highlighted the work done by a group of people who call themselves Operation Migration. The job of these dedicated people is to teach groups of hand-raised whooping cranes their migration patterns so that they can be successfully introduced into the wild.

But clearly it is never quite as simple as that. For starters the birds have to be hand-raised, yet without absolutely any contact or bonds forming with their human keepers. The raising process starts before the chicks are even hatched, when they play recordings of a ‘brood call’. The noise not only reassures the growing chick, but it implants this parental sound on the chick so that it is easier to guide it once it is hatched. It is a natural sound that the parent would normally give to the chick while brooding. Once the eggs are hatched, the really hard work begins. The birds have to be fed while they are weak and then taught how to feed themselves. All the while, their human handlers make very sure that they are not ever accustomed to humans. The idea is to raise them to be as wild as possible. The birds are not exposed to human voices, the sounds of cars or anything else. Whatever is taken to the pen is carefully camouflaged or concealed, including the humans who don white robes so that they somewhat resemble the mother crane.

After months of hard work, the birds are stretching their flight feathers and ready to attempt their first migration. And this is where Operation Migration comes into play. The birds do not instinctively know where to go. Yet they only need to be shown once and they’ll know exactly what to do for the rest of their lives. So when migration season rounds the corner, the birds are carefully prepared for flight by being encouraged to follow a small flock of ultralight aircraft. The ‘brood call’ which they’ve known since before they hatched is played from the aircraft – amplified so that it can be heard over the noise of the single-propeller, single-wing aircraft. Over time the chicks develop the strength needed to sustain them in their long-distance flight. And that is where things start to get tedious and difficult. The flight crew needs to guide the birds from their home all the way to Florida. The problem: the weather doesn’t always play ball. While the birds could probably handle less than perfect weather, the light aircraft cannot. It’s a frustrating, long journey that can see the selfless pilots and workers away from their families for over five months of the year. But it’s worth it. In the eight years that the Operation Migration project, led by Joe Duff, has been in action, the Eastern Migratory Population has been built up from zero to several dozen birds. At the moment they’re in the process of showing 14 new birds the way. Unfortunately so far the going has been tough due to adverse weather conditions.

The human-aided migratory flight not only raises awareness about the danger that the whooping cranes are in, but of the danger that so many of our feathered friends face. It’s not only a chance to help these birds, but a chance to educate and to encourage conservation. Hats off to Operation Migration!

Bird Watching: Tanzania’s Spectacular Birdlife

Editor — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:10:12 +0000

If you’re an avid bird watcher and you enjoy traveling to the far-flung corners of the earth in search of prime specimens, Tanzania should be your next birding destination. This beautiful corner of the African continent is home to a surprising number of strikingly different birds. What’s more, family members can join you in your travels and experience the safari of a lifetime.

When most people picture Africa, they think of the Serengeti with its open, grassy plains. Much of Tanzania does feature this sort of open grassy terrain – a terrain which makes for easy bird watching. But Tanzania enjoys a somewhat varied terrain and you will find small pockets of ancient forest that are heavily populated by birds. The Kilombero Valley is also an excellent place to go bird watching in Tanzania and visitors may make the most of the beautiful river that runs through the valley to seek out a variety of water fowl. Canoe safaris in the area allow you to get very close to the beautiful birds living in the area. As if that wasn’t enough, you can also head to the Sadaani National Park where you can head out to the beach in search of seabirds. In totally there are approximately 1113 species of bird found in Tanzania – 29 of which are endemic. Clearly every bird watcher will enjoy a birding trip to Tanzania!

But exactly what sort of birds can you expect to see in Tanzania? Well, with the area regularly providing a home to 1113 species of bird, we certainly aren’t going to name them all here. But some regularly spotted birds include the likes of the adorable little hoopoe, the colorful bee-eater, the strikingly graceful crowned-crane and the unusual secretary bird. The instantly recognizable cry of the fish eagle will ring out above well-watered areas, while a variety of parrots will vie for your attention in heavily forested areas. And of course, no trip to Africa would be complete without a sighting of the biggest bird in the world – the ostrich. This curious, flightless bird can be spotted both in its natural state in the wild and in a somewhat more domesticated state near game reserve chalets. So book your stay in Tanzania now and make sure that you don’t miss out on this fantastic birding opportunity.

The Elegant Crane

Editor — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:29:27 +0000

Almost every culture has at least one story about the majestic crane and they have long been depicted in art in different countries. These large birds have long legs and necks and so they stand out from other birds very easily. There are also representatives of this group of birds on every continent with the exception of two: Antarctica and South America. Cranes belong to the Gruiformes bird order and are grouped into the family ‘Gruidae’.

At first sight, many people tend to confuse cranes with herons as both birds are large and have long necks and legs. However the two birds are very different and are not even related. One of the most notable differences is that cranes always fly with their necks stretched out ahead of them, while herons pull their heads back against their bodies. Cranes are generally gregarious and so you will often find them coming together to form large flocks. Most crane species learn to perform an elaborate and noisy courtship display – a skill which they are able to refine throughout their lifetime, as it would seem that they do change mates more than once. Cranes are generally opportunistic feeders and so their diets will change according to their nutritional requirements, the season and what is available. Observers may not bat an eye at a crane swallowing insects, fish, amphibians, grain, berries or plants. However, they may be surprised to see a crane devouring a small rodent from time to time!

There are approximately fifteen living species of crane that have been divided up into four genera. Almost all these species are threatened and many are actually listed as being ‘critically endangered’. The plumage of the different species is quite varied and makes for some interesting bird watching. The Indian Sarus Crane, for example, is simply white-grey in color with a striking red hood over its head and a portion of its neck. Red-crowned cranes are white with black tail and neck plumage and a small red ‘crown’ above the bill. The Grey Crowned Crane is perhaps one of the most striking species, with grey, white and brown plumage and a beautiful golden ‘crown’ that stands up above the birds head providing the perfect contrast to the bright red throat pouch. Some species do not migrate, while others migrate over long distances each year. These birds are truly worth observing in the wild, so get your binoculars out and go in search of the crane species located nearest to you.

Birds of Eden – A Little Piece of Avian Heaven

Editor — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:38:11 +0000

The lush Garden Route area along the coast of South Africa can readily be described as a piece of paradise. The world’s largest free flight bird sanctuary, Birds of Eden, is situated in the heart of this piece of paradise. A single birdcage spans two hectares of indigenous forest, including a gorge, and is home to more than 2,000 birds of 180 species from various continents. These include parrots, parakeets, toucans, hornbills, thrushes, conures, cranes, flamingoes, ibises, swans and many more.

This unique sanctuary has been designed to allow the birds to live as they would in the wild – but with no predators. The aviary was constructed with 27 masts of varying heights, linked by a series of cables to form a grid, which the wire mesh rests on. One hundred kilometers of cable and 3.2 hectares of bird mesh, all painted green, were used in the project. Special features incorporated into the sanctuary include an irrigation system that simulates rain together with sound-system thunder, a walkway behind a stunning waterfall, a 200-seater amphitheater and 1.2 kilometers of paraplegic-friendly walkways. Birds of Eden in South Africa incorporates several dams, with the largest featuring a floating bridge with seating for visitors to relax and enjoy refreshments. There are also two restaurants in the sanctuary, both strategically situated to allow visitors to enjoy the beauty around them to the greatest degree.

The Birds of Eden sanctuary was initiated and developed by Tony Blignaut who is the CEO of the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary situated nearby. Blignaut saw the need for a sanctuary to accommodate birds as well as smaller primates, such as marmosets and tamarins, which could not be safely incorporated into Monkeyland. Birds of Eden would also serve as a safe haven to release captive bred and ex-pet birds. A surprising number of birds from the parrot family are discarded after a year or two with an owner who no longer wants the responsibility of caring for them. These birds are carefully and gently rehabilitated, bearing in mind that many of them have come from small suspended aviaries or indoor cages. After a quarantine period, the new bird is exposed to other birds and then moved into an indoor aviary. From there they are moved to a larger free flight aviary to allow for development of its flight muscles. Only after a bird has successfully adapted to these various environments, will it be released into the sanctuary area.

The fact that many of the birds in the sanctuary were once pets means that they generally have no fear of humans. This allows visitors to get really close to the birds, but be warned that sometimes up close and personal comes with a friendly nip of the finger or ear and there are a couple of “thieves” who will try and get away with something shiny, such as an earring, if they are given half a chance. Visitors have expressed amazement at seeing different species of birds like macaws, starlings, toucans and doves sharing a communal dinner table, often in the company of a tamarin or two. Fresh food catering to each species’ needs is provided twice a day, so there is no need to squabble to establish a pecking order – there is plenty for all.

Clearly the people behind Birds of Eden are animal lovers in the superlative sense and this is what visitors to the sanctuary will come to appreciate. Most certainly all the ex-pets living in this piece of paradise have found a home like no other.

Festival of the Cranes in New Mexico

Editor — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:57:56 +0000

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge situated south of Socorro, New Mexico, has developed into one of the most magnificent national wildlife sanctuaries in North America. It is here that tens of thousands of birds gather each autumn to stay for the duration of winter. The 20th annual Festival of the Cranes to take place from 13 to 18 November 2007 is a celebration in honor of the arrival of the cranes.

In the 1930s there was a severe decline in the population of greater sandhill cranes, mainly caused by a loss of wintering and breeding areas. The result was, that by 1941 there were fewer than 20 cranes wintering in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Since 1939 a project has been underway to restore wintering habitat for the cranes. Much work has been done to implement intensive moist soil management which promotes growth of natural wetland foods, resulting in a dramatic recovery of the crane population which currently numbers about 15,000. The refuge also serves as either a wintering stopover or winter home for bird species such as snow geese, pintails, shovelers, mallards and many other water fowl.

During the Festival of the Cranes, tours will be offered to introduce visitors to areas that are generally not available at other times of the year. Various topics will be discussed and visitors will have an opportunity to ask questions. Representatives of the local National Wildlife Refuges will give a detailed explanation of the operation of each refuge. There will also be a number of lectures, exhibits and workshops on a variety of wildlife related topics, with the emphasis on birds. Animal rescue groups will display birds and mammals, providing information on the important role that rescue groups play in the rehabilitation and re-introduction of animals.

Included in the many activities available during the Festival of Cranes will be a display of raptor hunting strategies presented by a professional falconer and his trained hawks and falcons. A houseboat tour will take visitors past a wide variety of water fowl followed up with a birding tour on land. Visitors that want to catch the unforgettable spectacle of thousands of geese and cranes leaving their nighttime roosts need to be at the festival before 5:30 am on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – it will definitely be worth the effort.

The Festival of the Cranes in Socorro, New Mexico is an event that truly has something for everyone, from young to old, hobby birders to seasoned bird experts, and amateur to professional photographers – be sure that you don’t miss it!