Rare sighting of grey crown cranes at Toti Civic gardens [Video]
The sighting of grey crowned cranes in Amanzimtoti is extraordinary as the species is uncommon in the area.
BIRD of the week scribe and avid bird watcher, Bruce Munro, recently spotted a pair of grey crowned cranes at the Civic Centre gardens.
While an established flock resides in the old airport region, this marks the first recorded visit to the area.
Also read: Birding community abuzz over rare sighting in Amanzimtoti
With fewer than 6000 individuals remaining in South Africa, the grey crowned crane is classified as an endangered species.
These cranes are locally common residents and nomadic, moving in response to rainfall. In South Africa, they are confined to the wetter north east and south east regions.
They like shallow wetlands, marshes, moist grassland and agricultural fields where they forage for frogs, reptiles, insects and fallen grain. They are gregarious, unless breeding. Flocks can number between 30 to 150 birds.
These cranes often perform dancing displays in pairs or groups. Their voice is a high characteristic two-syllable trumpet “may-hem”, usually in flight and a deep booming “huum-huum” when breeding.
Breeding takes place from December to February. The nest is a large flattened mound of reeds, rushes and grass, well screened by vegetation in a marsh. Two to three pale blue eggs with a white chalky coating are laid. Incubation lasts 29 to 31 days and they are fledglings for about four months, with the young remaining with their parents for up to 10 months.
The isiZulu name is uNohemu and in Afrikaans die mahem.
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