Crested Crane : Fun Facts About Uganda’s National Bird : Balearica regulorum is the scientific name for the crested crane, sometimes known as the grey crowned crane. It is an exceptionally beautiful bird with an array of colors and a highly intriguing manner of existence. The Grey-crowned Crane has two subspecies: the crested crane, a species of B. r. gibbericeps found in East Africa. This is found throughout East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Uganda, as well as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern regions. The Southern regions of Angola and South Africa are home to the B. r. regulorum, also known as the South African crowned crane.
UGANDA’S NATIONAL BIRD
The grey-crowned crane is revered and legally protected as Uganda’s national bird. Even young children are aware, that it is a sacred national icon that must be revered.
This bird was chosen as the Union Jack’s emblem in 1893 by Sir Frederick Jackson, the country’s then-governor of Uganda. It was given the go-ahead to be inserted on flags flown by the Governor of Uganda by His Majesty George V of England. Because of its beauty and modest nature, the crested crane still serves as Uganda’s national bird. It can be seen on all official state documents and the coat of arms.
PHYSICAL LOOK
The grey-crowned crane is a large bird that often measures 3 feet in height. That is almost one meter tall. An average crested crane weighs 3, 5 kilos. A crested crane’s head has a velvety black forehead, a crown that is yellowish (nearly golden), red throat pouches that inflate, and white sides. A straight, black beak completes the look.
Its long, greyish neck falls back to its body’s predominant colors of black, white, red, and yellow. Long and slender legs were designed to balance the body. On your birding trip to Uganda, it is likely to be the most colorful and intriguing bird you will observe.
NATURAL HABITAT
Only certain regions of Eastern and Southern Africa are home to the crested crane. Although it prefers to nest close to moist regions like river banks and marshes, it is typically found in dry, open locations.
FOOD AND DIET
In terms of diet, the crested crane is omnivorous. It can therefore consume both plants and animals as food. Grass, seeds, insects, worms, rodents, flies, grasshoppers, small fish, and even snakes are all examples of plant life.
In addition to a variety of other foods, the crested crane favors eating grass and sedge seeds. They spend their entire time searching for food, sleeping in the trees at night.
SOCIAL HABITS
The ‘dance’ of the Crested Crane is well recognized. At this point, it extends its magnificent wings and begins to skip. The wings spread to dramatically show how beautifully the colors merge together despite the lack of much of a pattern. Although the feathers are white, the top of the wings are black. While they can dance at any time of the year, this is most frequently seen during the breeding season. „It is truly a show to witness many of them “do the dance “
The crested crane may rest or stand on one foot while holding the other close to its body, while it is not moving about looking for food. In comparison to Black-crowned Cranes, it has a distinctive communication style. The crested crane’s cry is similar to a honking sound.
The crested crane is a monogamous species in terms of social behavior; it has a single lifelong Companion. The male crested crane is always slightly bigger than the female, even though you might not be able to discern the difference.
If they are not feeding on the river banks, you could frequently observe them in pairs. Around wetlands, flocks of 30 to 150 birds are common.
The Crested Crane can breed and produce throughout the year in Uganda, however this happens most frequently during the dry seasons. The long swamp grass and other vegetation are used by the crane couples to build huge nests.
Two to five dirty-white-eggs are laid by the female. Between 28 and 31 days, each spouse incubates them alternately. The infants are referred to as chicks. The crested crane’s young can begin running, as soon as they are born. An average lifespan of 22 years is possible for crested cranes.
CONSERVATION STATUS
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN Redlist) has the grey-crowned crane on its endangered species list. According to recent studies, the number of these birds is steadily declining, and they may soon become critically endangered.
Around 22,000 mature birds are considered to make up the current crested crane population in the world. Compared to the 1970s, Uganda had a lot less of this. Less than 10 000 grey-crowned cranes were present in Uganda in 2011, compared to 70,000 in the 1970s.
The dwindling natural habitat is one of the main causes of the declining population. As was already noted, the crested cranes prosper in Eastern and Southern African regions close to inland marshes.
Wetlands have been under a lot of strain from human activities, such as agriculture and urbanization, as a result of the rapid increase in the population. The crested crane’s native habitat has been significantly diminished as a result.
