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Description:
The smallest of the cranes, Demoiselle Cranes stand about 3
feet tall. Their plumage is light gray on the back and sides, with darker
gray on the head, throat and breast. They have white feather tufts on
each side of the head. Unlike other cranes, the entire head is
feathered. Their wings are long and often reach beyond their short tail.
They have a short, sturdy beak. Females are slightly smaller than males.
Range:
They breed from the Ukraine to Siberia, and in parts of
northwest Africa. They winter in northeast and east Africa and central
India.
Habitat:
They prefer marshy areas during the breeding season, and arid
grasslands during the winter.
Diet:
In the wild, they eat seeds, insects, worms, and small animals
such as lizards and snakes. In the zoo, our cranes forage for insects and
other live prey in their yard. They also have access to layer ration,
ground dog food, and fresh produce.
Life
Cycle:
Cranes mate for life and are famous for their dancing
rituals. Though dancing is not limited to courtship purposes, it does
serve to strengthen pair bonds. Unison calls also play a part in ensuring
that partners come into breeding conditions at the same time. The
breeding season is usually in the spring, but may be as late as June in
northern latitudes. Demoiselles build nests on the ground in a sheltered
spot, such as an island. The nests consist of dried plant material, but
specific materials vary from pair to pair. A clutch is normally two long,
oval shaped eggs that are brown flecked with dark brown. Both partners
help to incubate the eggs, which hatch after about 30 days. The young
fledge in 55-65 days (the shortest period of any crane). Juveniles are
mature by their second year.
Did You Know?
·
Demoiselle Cranes do not have the elongated trachea that
allows other cranes to make loud, trumpeting calls. Instead, their calls
are low-pitched and raspy.
·
Their short beaks are ideal for foraging for grass seeds and
insects, while short toes allow them to run easily through the grass.
·
In India, demoiselle cranes have been domesticated and kept
as “watchbirds” to kill insects and snakes.
·
Though not globally threatened, habitat destruction and the
use of pesticides have taken their toll on Demoiselle Crane populations.
Crane pairs prefer the same breeding grounds year after year, and they do
not adapt easily to human disturbance of their habitat.
·
Because nearly all cranes migrate across international
borders, crane conservation has encouraged countries to work together to
solve problems. In protecting crane habitat, governments have protected
habitats for many other kinds of animals.
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