REPORT RINGED CRANES

If you see a Blue Crane with rings on its legs, please let us know.

Hundreds of Blue Cranes have had rings placed on their legs over the years. At the Overberg Crane Group, we use these rings to identify Blue Cranes. With this information, we can learn more about Blue Cranes: where do they go (not much is known about their migratory movements within South Africa), how are they threatened, how are populations numbers changing, and much more. This helps us protect the last remaining 25,000 Blue Cranes, and helps us boost their numbers.

 

bluecraneringed1. RIGHT LEG

Look at the colour combinations from top to bottom on the right leg. This could be 1-3 rings.

2. LEFT LEG

Look at the colour combinations from top to bottom on the left leg. This could be 1-3 rings.

3. LEFT LEG

SAFRINGs were placed on either the left or right leg, below the knee. Only visible on birds in the hand.

 

HOW ARE BLUE CRANES RINGED?

Crane chicks are ringed just before they can fly. All colour-rings are placed above the “knee” (the anatomical ankle) of the Blue Crane.

  • Colour rings are placed on one leg, identifying the area where the bird was hatched.
  • A unique colour combination of short 2.5 or 3.5 cm colour-rings are placed on the other leg, enabling us to identify individual birds from a distance.
  • A metal SAFRING ring is placed above the foot of the crane. This ring has a unique identification number.

CONTACT OUR OVERBERG CRANE GROUP EXTENSION OFFICER

Contact Christie Craig. Email: support@bluecrane.org.za; or Tel. 066 289 5988

EMAIL CHRISTIE

WHAT SHOULD YOU NOTE WHEN YOU SEE A RINGED BLUE CRANE?

 

  • The colour-ring combination on each leg e.g. short red over blue on one leg and tall orange ring on other leg (please note that the legs of the crane are taken as if you are the crane)
  • The date and time of sighting
  • The location (GPS coordinates if possible)
  • The habitat and activity
  • Their behaviour (are they roosting, feeding, nesting etc)
  • The group size

WHAT CAN WE SEE FROM THE RINGS?

  • The specific location where the chicks hatched
  • The age of the Blue Crane
  • The movement distance and direction over time
  • The mortality rate.