The blue crane is native to South Africa. Females lay one to three eggs and after around thirty days, the young hatch. They are aggressive towards other blue cranes in their territories but are more accommodating to other cranes, such as the large warder. The poisoning of blue cranes was first reported in 2012 when a family of seven birds were found with poisoning symptoms, such as curled feet and pulled up legs; however, the scale and use of poison was not fully uncovered and understood until early 2015. Blue cranes are partially social but become solitary or pair up during the breeding season. There is a strict hierarchy in groups, with the larger adult males being dominant. It is the most range restricted of all the cranes in the world. Subscribe to receive the latest news, events and resources from the National Zoological Garden of South Africa. The species is also known as the Stanley Crane or the Paradise Crane. Flocks have a strict hierarchy, with large adult males establishing dominance. The Blue Crane is pale blue-grey in colour becoming darker on the upper head, neck and nape. Fred and Manuela Crabbia purchased the farm in November 2008 named it after two blue cranes that were found nesting on the farm. Entirely of a leaden-blue, with the exception of the upper portion of the head, which is white, and the ends of the long drooping plumes of the wings, which are black. KINGDOM: Animalia (Animals) PHYLUM: Chordata (Possessing a notochord) CLASS: Aves (Birds) ORDER: Gruiformes (Cranes) FAMILY: Gruidae (Cranes) SUB-FAMILY: Gruinae (Cranes) GENUS: Antrhopoides (Blue Crane and Demoiselle Crane) SPECIES: Anthropoides paradiseus (Blue Crane). Males engage in a dance competition and fling objects into the air to entice the females. It appeared on South Africa’s five-cent coin until 2012. Report complaints on environmental and/or social harms and gender discrimination arising from SANBI’s activities. Although Blue Cranes were the most commonly killed birds found (54% of all carcasses), the model was unable to predict lines with high collision risk for Blue Cranes. It features an outdoor pool, a restaurant, and offers free Wi-Fi. in joint military operations such Blue Hungwe in Zimbabwe in 1997 and Blue Crane in South Africa in 1999. They feed on small roots and seeds, bulbs, and fruits. The bill is ochre to greyish, with a pink tinge. The Eastern Cape population has declined over the years and has become extinct in some breeding sites, while the Western Cape population has risen slightly during the last few decades. The Blue Crane is a smallish species of crane found in South Africa. The blue crane is the national bird of South Africa . About Blue Crane Vineyards. Blue cranes eat seeds of grasses and sedges, waste grains, insects, and small vertebrates. East Asia is the centre of crane diversity, with eight species, followed by Africa, which holds five resident species and wintering populations of a sixth. Of the four crane genera, Balearica (two species) is restricted to Africa, and Leucogeranus (one species) is restricted to … The blue crane stands about 3.5 inches and has an average wingspan of 6 ft 4 in. Unlike most cranes, it has a relatively large head and a thin neck. National Zoological Gardens. All guest rooms are air conditioned and include a TV and a kitchenette. North America's Sandhill Crane, on the other hand, is the world's most abundant species of crane. Flocks also occur in the Western Cape, especially in the Overberg area, and seasonally as far north as Nieuwoudtville. Smaller populations are found in northern Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. We value your privacy. The Blue Crane is endemic to southern Africa, with almost all of the population occurring in South Africa. They are fed primarily by their mother, who regurgitates food into their mouths. It is also common in parks and zoos. The species is listed as vulnerable. Copyright 2020 SANBI. Size: 38 – 54 inches tall, wingspan 65 – 80 inches. Cranes have been occasionally, illegally poisoned in areas where they are perceived as crop pests, or indirectly affected by poison aimed at other species causing crop damage. Blue Cranes are endemic to southern Africa, mainly the southern and eastern parts of South Africa from the southern and eastern Mpumalanga Highveld through the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. Blue cranes are birds of the dry grassy uplands, usually the pastured grasses of hills, valleys, and plains with a few scattered trees. Explore the best of Blue Crane Route! They fly after 3-5 months and stay with their parents until the next breeding season. South African Plants – What Kind of Plants Live in South Africa? Blue cranes generally live about 15 years in the wild but in captivity can reach ages between 20 and 30 years. They are absent from Antarctica and, mysteriously, South America. Almost all Blue Cranes live in South Africa, a country on the continent of Africa. They’re common in freshwater and saltwater, where they stalk the shallow shorelines for fish and crustaceans. There are also small and declining breeding populations in northern Namibia and western Swaziland, although the population may now be extinct there.