Wind power could put birds at risk

One of the nation's largest bird conservation groups says rapid construction of wind energy projects will endanger several avian species.

That includes the whooping crane, a famous migratory bird and annual visitor to central Nebraska.

By Juan Perez Jr., World-Herald Staff Writer

Minus One elegant and graceful Black-Necked Crane

Message of the story: Such careless actions from the local people can be attributed to lack of knowledge on the importance of birds. Later, the killer found carcass of the bird unpalatable and left it to rot. From then on, the visits in winter to roosting ground in Minjay became irregular. The coming of 5 nos in this winter can be tagged as ‘return of cranes’ after the incidence. The death was a biggest loss to the crane parents but more important to the conservationist in the backdrop of their endangered status.

No. of bird flu-infected cranes in Kagoshima totals 5

KAGOSHIMA, Dec. 27, 2010 (Kyodo News International) -- The Izumi city government in Kagoshima Prefecture said Monday that three hooded cranes that flew into the Izumi Plains have been confirmed as infected with the highly virulent avian influenza virus H5N1, raising the number of bird-flu-infected hooded cranes there to five so far.

White-naped crane also suspected of bird flu infection in Kagoshima

KAGOSHIMA, Dec. 23, 2010 (Kyodo News International) -- A white-naped crane in the Izumi Plains in Kagoshima Prefecture is suspected of being infected with avian influenza, following confirmation of a hooded crane in the same area carrying a highly infectious strain of bird flu, local officials said Thursday.

The Blue Crane: Threats to our national bird

Kentucky officials consider allowing sandhill crane hunting

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A measure that would allow limited hunting of Sandhill cranes is under consideration by officials in Kentucky. The population of the big migrating birds in the Eastern U.S. had decreased to only a few hundred decades ago, but has since rebounded —biologists found about 60,000 last year.

Sandhill Crane nominated for 2010 Bird of the Year

Weather stalls training trip of whooping cranes

Ten young but large endangered whooping cranes took off from the Savannah, Tenn., area Thursday to continue their migration training trip behind an ultralight aircraft. - By Anne Paine • The Tennessean

Migratory birds end up as pets and on restaurant menus

In Poyang Lake, the country's largest freshwater lake located in Jiangxi Province, migratory birds are under attack despite a regular campaign to protect the visitors, the People's Daily reported Monday. - By Huang Jingjing

Wattled Crane, the Second Tallest Species of Crane Comes to Paignton Zoo

Paignton, UK - A pair of wattled cranes has arrived from Paradise Park in Hayle. They were both hatched in 1984, the male in the UK, the female in Germany. - By Philip Knowling

Tenth group of endangered whooping cranes on guided flight to Florida

By News Staff, The Times-Herald

Eleven young whooping cranes have completed more than one-third of their migration from Wisconsin to Florida. They flew into Kentucky from Illinois Tuesday, landing in Union County, Ky.Only six to seven months old, the cranes have now traveled 463 miles and have another 795 miles to go.

Cranes settle into Paignton Zoo after move from Hayle's Paradise Park

A long way from the wide open skies of Africa, two giant cranes from the continent are now in residence in Devon, having made the long journey from....Cornwall.

Whooping Cranes Headed to Sunny St. Marks, Florida

The endangered cranes will travel a 'whooping' 1,285 air miles all the way from Wisconsin as part of the reintroduction project which conditions cranes from the day their hatched to their first guided flight.

Operation Migration will log more than 10,000 sky miles by the time they reach St. Marks, Florida. - WCTV.TV

From jail bird to free bird: crane rescued

By Ernest Herndon, Enterprise-Journal
An exotic bird, a Good Samaritan and the Amite County jail figure into a bizarre story that started Sunday afternoon and had a happy ending this morning.

The last wild Siberian Crane (Western flock - Iran)

A Siberian Crane sighting discussion from the birdforum - a forum for wild birds and birding.

Sandhill cranes returning to Galveston

Photo by Barbara Rabek

Birds need heads up to avoid power lines

What do cranes, storks and bustards have in common? All three use the same feeding technique. They use their vision to guide the tips of their bills as they capture or pick up food. These birds have great vision when focusing at the tips of their bills. - by Marcia Davis

Re-introduced Somerset crane goes missing

A Eurasian crane that was part of a group that was released in Somerset in September has gone missing. - BBC News

South African birds in trouble

Wattled Crane by ƒernando / Flickr

Of the 10,000 bird species on Earth, 1,226 are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Forty of these occur in South Africa and of these 20 are endemic. Although extinction is a natural phenomenon, species are now disappearing from our planet at an alarming rate, and studies have shown that this is mostly driven by human activities.

Recent surveys in Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, countries long thought to be strongholds for the wattled crane, show that the global population is only half of what has been reported in recent years.- By Sap, Times Live

Whooping cranes returning in record numbers

State and federal wildlife officials say they expect as many as 290 cranes to make the trip from their nesting grounds in Canada — an extraordinary comeback two years after the deadliest winter on record for the critically endangered bird. - By Matthew Tresaugue - Houston Chronicle

Power lines 'invisible' to birds

Birds fly into power lines because they have "blind spots" in their field of vision, according to new research. - By Ella Davies, Earth News reporter

Sangty valley awaits arrival of rare cranes

ITANAGAR, Oct 28 – The enchanting Sangty valley in Arunachal Pradesh is ready to host once again the endangered black-neck cranes as the winter approaches, but bird watchers are crossing their fingers over whether the winged guests from China and Tibet will arrive in depleted numbers.

Rare black neck cranes deserting Sangty valley in Arunachal

Endangered whooping crane population rebounds

North America’s imperilled whooping crane population — which had experts in a panic just 18 months ago after nearly 10% of the giant birds died in their wintering grounds in Texas — has rebounded after a banner summer season in Northern Canada where a near-record number of chicks were born. - By Randy Boswell

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: The Return of the Avian Species

With the water made available ornithologist are hopeful of many other migratory birds flying in the bird sanctuary for the winter season. "It's after two years that the national park has so much of water and that the water-bodies inside the national park are filled. The winter migratory birds like the common cranes and different species of birds will start arriving soon,'' said Krishna Advocate, president, Ghana Keoladeo Natural History Society. - Rang7 Team

Record numbers of whooping cranes coming

Things are looking up for the endangered whooping crane. The bird made news two years ago when a record number of crane deaths were reported during drought conditions on the Texas coast. But according to state and federal biologists, flock numbers have rebounded, and a new record high number of cranes should start arriving on the Texas coast later this month. - Staff Report, TheRecrodLive

Overberg's Blue Crane Viewing

Birding in the Overberg region is particularly rewarding for those intent on viewing the blue crane, South Africa's national bird. The area also boasts a number of other avian endemics and is protected by some interesting conservation initiatives.

The Most Unexpectedly Beautiful Bird in The World: The Red-crowned Crane

Red-crowned cranes are one of the most beautiful animals with their gracefully decorated snow white plumage; they are regarded as a symbol of longevity, love, fidelity and good luck for their sacred spirits. Along with belonging to the heaviest bird species, they are also known to be the second rarest species in the world.

Published by CHAN LEE PENG

Moscow fire threat for Wild Life

The recent fires that took place throughout Russia, have caused great harm not only individuals but also forest dwellers. Particularly affected species, which are already endangered. For example – gray crane.

Crane viewing continues to end of month

Each weekend in October the Kiwanis Club of Battle Creek opens the gates on their property in Convis Township so the public will have the opportunity to view Michigan's tallest bird.

Whooping cranes begin annual trek to Florida

The 10th annual ultralight-led whooping crane migration got off the ground on 10/10/10 as 11 young birds followed three ultralight aircraft south off the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin at dawn Sunday. - By Barbara Behrendt

Alaska Sandhill Crane Blog

Japan offers cranes to Hanoi for big anniversary

The Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, has presented the Hanoi Zoo a pair of cranes, a valuable and rare kind of bird listed in the world’s Red Book, as a gift to the city on the occasion of its 1,000th anniversary.

Blue Crane Ringtone for your phone!

An artsy flock of birds fly through Bellevue

If you drive through downtown Bellevue, you won?t be able to help but notice a flock of 10 life sized Sandhill Cranes, Michigan?s tallest bird, flying low through the northwest corner of the Capital Avenue and Main Street intersection. If you don?t get through Bellevue very often, then this interesting temporary art installation is something you won?t want to miss. This combined school/community effort was orchestrated by Bellevue Schools art teacher Audrey Haddock. - Jani Hart

Where the Sarus thrives...

Sarus cranes abound in landscapes dominated by crops. K S Gopi Sundar, a Bangalorean who is developing a new program called "Sarus Scape", has sought to understand factors that maximise persistence of birds in the rice-wheat belt of Uttar Pradesh, writes Sunil Kumar M.

Docent-led sandhill crane tours begin at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve

Birding enthusiasts may want to register for one of the sandhill crane wetlands tours taking place at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve (a.k.a. Isenberg Sandhill Crane Reserve) near Lodi. - Kelly Burgess

Oriental Bird Club Images

21 Cranes released onto the Somerset Levels

The story of the cranes release
By Amy King and Roland Digby - The crane's surrogate parents

September 2010. So, the day in question finally arrived and it was time to release the cranes. Although it was a bit more blustery than we might have liked, we decided that, because of the nature of the release site and the bird's clear attachment to their grey suited parents and release site, things would be OK. Compared to other releases this was always going to be different, for the main part I am pretty sure that no other UK releases have costumed handlers leading the birds in question out of their pen.

WI DNR offers a crane-watching day

Sandhill Crane Wetland Tour Program at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve

2 sandhill cranes flown from Green Bay wildlife sanctuary to Connecticut zoo

Sandhill cranes don't fly first class or coach. But with a little help from Delta Air Lines, two sandhill cranes flew in a plane's cargo area on Tuesday morning, making the trip from Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay to the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Conn. - Charles Davis

Switch to underground cable benefits whooping cranes

Fish and Wildlife Service officials cite benefits of converting power lines
An effort to replace North Dakota power lines knocked out by storms last winter with underground cable has proven to have a secondary benefit: reducing the mortality of endangered whooping cranes.

Water flows in, heritage safe - Birds return to parched Keoladeo park in Rajasthan

Water is once again flowing into the lakes of the Keoladeo National Park, staving off the threat of the bird sanctuary losing its World Heritage Site label.

Keoladeo in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district, once known to support 40,000 birds from 375 species, has seen its winged population dwindle over the past few years because of water scarcity. It now hosts about 200 species of birds, mostly domestic, with the migratory birds yet to arrive. - Rakhee Roy Talukdar

1st century wall paintings restored in Jordan

The paintings portray a wine harvest, with human figures, resembling the god Dionysus, celebrating. There are also birds, including a demoiselle crane and a Palestine sunbird with rich colours.

Whooping Cranes Make Rare Visit to Northfield

What started as a typical day for Carleton College Cowling Arboretum director Nancy Braker turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when she received a phone call from a neighbor, alerting her to the presence of Whooping Cranes in the College-owned McKnight Prairie area this past Monday.

Necedah Whooping Crane Festival Is Saturday Sept. 18

NECEDAH, Wis. (AP) ― Whooping crane enthusiasts and people working to save them from extinction are expected in Necedah this weekend.

Ugandan wins Whitley award

A Ugandan has won a Whitley Award in the United Kingdom for conserving crested cranes and wetlands. He is Jimmy Muheebwa, the project coordinator for the community-based conservation of cranes and wetlands under Nature Uganda in the Lake Victoria basin. - By Chris Mugasha

Performing birds fly east after Monday

A West African Crowned Crane flies around during a performance of “Soar: A Symphony in Flight” at the San Diego Zoo. Sean M. Haffey • U-T

Ringo the crane has become a tattoo star

With a reputation to rival Rod Hull's Emu, it's hard to imagine anyone wanting a tattoo of Ringo, the bad-tempered grey crowned crane, on their arm.

But Caisa Karlstrom, 23, from Sweden, has had the aggressive bird immortalised on her arm in a huge, colourful tattoo.

Ringo has been launching violent attacks on his keepers Jayne and Andrew Collier at Axe Valley Bird and Animal Sanctuary in Axminster.

Treatment procedures and technolgies for pesticide-poisoning cranes

Treatment procedures and technolgies for pesticide-poisoning cranes

LIN Bao-qing^1,2, TIAN Xiu-Hua², LIU Wei¹, LI Lian shan¹

(1.College of Wildlife Resource,Northest Forsetry University, Harbin 15004,China; 2.Xianghai National Nature Reserve Administration of Jilin, Baicheng 137215, China)

Abstract: Pesticide poisoning is one of the important factors to thresten the population safe of wild cranes.A variety of commonly used pesticides that may cause poisoning to wild crane and their toxicology were analyzed.The procedures and technologies for treatment of pesticide-poisoned cranes were summarized in accordance with the typical cases of 47 treated poisoning-cranes,including red-crowned crane,white crane,white-headed crane,common crane,and white-naped crane,in Xianghai National Nature Rreserve and its adjacent area during the yaers of 1998-2007.Additionally,some proposals were also put porward for prevention of pesticide poisoning to the cranes.

Auction of decorated bird statues raises $44,000

KEARNEY — An auction of public art raised $44,000 for the Kearney Dawn Rotary Club Thursday at the Museum of Nebraska Art. - By Rick Brown, Kearney Hub Staff Writer

Two precious Sarus nests abandoned at Keoladeo

JAIPUR: While the water from the Pachna dam have spelt life for the otherwise parched Keoladeo national park but may be responsible for atleast two precious nests of the Saras crane being abandoned by the bird. The Sarus crane, a bird species characteristic of wetlands, is categorised as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List - Anindo Dey, The Times of India

A fly-past not seen for 400 years: How the first flock of British cranes since the 16th century were set free

Its piercing cry echoed over our marshes and wetlands - until it was hunted to extinction. But 400 years on, the crane is making a comeback.

Experts who want to return the species to its former habitat have hatched eggs from Germany and are reintroducing a flock of 20. - By David Derbyshire

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Reintroduction of Non-migratory Whooping Cranes into Southwest Louisiana

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today in the Federal Register it is seeking public comment on a proposed rule to reintroduce the endangered whooping crane into habitat in its historic range on the state-owned White Lake Wetland Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.

To allow adequate time to conduct this review, the Service requests that information be received on or before October 18, 2010. You may submit written information on the proposed rule by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R4-ES-2010-0057; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
• E-mails or faxes will not be accepted. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that any personal information provided will be posted.

Sandhills in crosshairs

What was once considered a true wildlife success story, the sandhill crane, is now almost a true wildlife nightmare.

“It’s a beautiful bird people enjoy watching, but on the other hand it has taken over and is causing monetary damage to certain areas,” said Dan Hicks, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesman. By: Perla Trevizo

60 years later, the whoopers may be returning. Plans being hatched to release cranes in marshes of Louisiana coast

The whooping crane, a majestic bird that has become emblematic of endangered species, may soon return to Louisiana's coastal marshes after a 60-year absence. - By Matthew Tresaugue, Houston Chronicle

Annual Cranes of the World Festival

Friday, September 24 and Saturday, September 25, 2010

ICF’s 37^th Anniversary festivities will kick off on September 24th with a theatrical performance benefiting ICF and the historic Al. Ringling Theatre in downtown Baraboo. Saturday’s festivities will be at our world headquarters and conclude in the evening with the Annual Member Banquet at Ho-Chunk Casino Hotel and Convention Center.

In pictures: Crane school graduates arrive in Somerset

Young cranes are prepared for the wild in Somerset

A group of cranes which were hatched at a nature reserve in Gloucestershire have reached the final stage before they are released into the wild.

Community flocks together to aid cranes

The Yomiuri Shimbun

TSURUIMURA, Hokkaido--In efforts to prevent a new decline in the tancho crane population, Tsuruimura residents are adopting a novel approach to protect the species.

Established in 2008, a local organization called Tancho Community has organized a feeding program cultivating corn for the cranes. With local farmers on board, organization members plant crops with local primary school students. Once grown, the corn is transported to feeding sites managed by the Wild Bird Society of Japan and other organizations.

Efforts to establish flock of whooping cranes meet with some success

While the Gulf Coast oil spill looms large for those who work with Wisconsin's migrating birds, the spring brought some much needed good news for the effort to restore a flock of migrating whooping cranes. -By RON SEELY

Are Zombie Vultures In Our Future?

In short, NSAID toxicity was reported for raptors, storks, cranes and owls, suggesting that the potential conservation impact of NSAIDs use may extend beyond Gyps vultures and could have significant impacts upon New World vultures, too. - Posted on: July 1, 2010 2:05 PM, by "GrrlScientist"

Sarus newborn brings cheer to zoo

LUCKNOW: Lucknow zoo has got a reason to rejoice -- yet another addition to the extended family. This time it is the only breeding pair of sarus crane that has been blessed with a newborn.

Despite 'Crane crossing' signs, baby sandhill crane killed in Hernando Beach

HERNANDO BEACH — The most popular chick in Hernando Beach died young.

A loving community along Shoal Line Boulevard had watched her eat, grow and pose for pictures until a hit-and-run accident early Tuesday morning ended her life. - By Laura J. Nelson, Times Staff Writer

'Slippers' Help Baby Chick Walk

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - A curator at a park in England saved the day for a rare baby African Crowned Crane, who was born just last week with a defect where toes on both feet were growing curled. - Chandra Price

Sandhill cranes at risk in Gulf of Mexico

By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun July 7, 2010

An estimated quarter of a million sandhill cranes that migrate through B.C. are at risk from the continuing BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a wildlife expert at Simon Fraser University said Tuesday.

Rise in sale of exotic birds

Pooja Kashyap, The Times of India

Exotic birds can be sold openly in the market and will not be considered an offence! No wonder there are increasing reports of rare birds being sold. Only Indian birds are covered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which entails a punishment of upto seven years.

Migration Update from April 30, 2010 - Journey North

Many western cranes are still in the central flyway, while at least 89 of the new eastern flock are confirmed home. No new nests, but the first hatchling for the new Class of 2010 is expected May 2 at the captive breeding center in Maryland.

Local birders report rare sighting

Hooded crane—a native of Siberia—spotted in open fields near Carey. - Jason Kauffman

MSA honored for work done at the International Crane Foundation

MILWAUKEE - MSA Integrated Project Delivery has won a Top Project of 2009 Award for the new Spirit of Africa Exhibit at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo.

Vietnam forest fires threaten rare crane

Hanoi - Forest fires in a national park are threatening the habitat of the endangered red-crowned crane, Vietnamese officials said Wednesday.

Crane chicks hatch hours after 'epic' road trip thanks to volcano flight ban

The first crane chicks set for release into the wild as part of a reintroduction project in Britain have hatched — just hours after the eggs completed an "epic" 17-hour road trip from Germany, experts said today.

Photograph: RSPB/PA

Federal court will sort out water rights for whoopers

The suit alleges that water use policies caused the crane’s food source to decline to the point that the endangered birds starved to death during a two-year drought in this region. - by Kenda Nelson

Volunteers rise early to count cranes

Bird-watchers fanned out across central Wisconsin's wetlands to participate in a statewide count of sandhill cranes. - By Karen Madden

Cranes' eggs due for collection for Great Crane Project

Conservation experts from Somerset will be collecting cranes' eggs in Germany as part of a plan to repopulate the Somerset Levels with great cranes. - BBC

Flight ban hits Slimbridge wild cranes project

A project to re-establish wild cranes in Somerset has been hit by flight restrictions introduced because of the volcanic ash cloud over the UK.

Common cranes make surprise appearance at reserve

Staff at an Angus nature reserve have said they are "stunned" by the arrival of four common cranes at the site.

It's a Bird! It's a Crane! It's the Coachella Mascot

BY Alissa Walker

This year, Crimson Collective, an L.A.-based group of artists, architects, and designers constructed Ascension, a 45-foot tall crane with a 150-foot wingspan.

Michigan Tech Graduate Plays Foster Mother to Whooping Cranes

By Jennifer Donovan

When she graduated from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, Eva Szyszkoski had never seen a whooping crane. Now, as tracking field manager for the International Crane Foundation (ICF), she migrates with the big white birds each year from southern Wisconsin to Florida and back to Wisconsin, monitoring and tracking the Eastern Migratory Population on its semi-annual trek.

Cranes under threat from illegal traders

This is more than double last year's going rate for two black-market blue cranes and could be behind a recent upsurge in poaching. In the past two weeks, nine blue cranes have been rescued in four separate incidents after they were illegally removed from their Karoo habitat in the Eastern Cape. By BONGANI MTHETHWA

Rescued sandhill crane recuperating at SeaWorld

The Associated Press- A sandhill crane rescued in central Florida is recuperating at SeaWorld Orlando, where it underwent surgery for a neck injury caused by a blowgun dart.

Plucky whooping crane gives wildlife experts hope

By JOHN McFARLAND (AP) – Mar 16, 2010

There are about 400 wild whooping cranes in the world, and biologists had feared that number would drop further this winter after last year's record 23 Texas deaths. Even though the birds fared better than expected — only one died this winter — the cranes face many obstacles to survive as a species.

(AP Photo/LM Otero)

Whooping cranes will be tracked with GPS units to study their habits and hazards

By David Brown

Washington Post Staff Writer

WOOD RIVER, NEB. -- Each dawn and dusk, numberless birds stopping here to feed on their migration north take to the air. Against the steel-colored sky they look like iron filings wheeling and milling to an invisible magnet.

Korea's DMZ Will Soon Be Open For Ecotourism

By Stephen Messenger, Porto Alegre, Brazil

In 1953, the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established to provide a buffer between the conflicting Northern and Southern nations--and today it is the most heavily militarized border in the world. But amid this icon of armed standoffs, in the narrow strip that divides the Korean Peninsula where no one is allowed, a highly diverse ecosystem has blossomed

An Uncertain Future... A Final Comment

What is the future of this flock and the work that's been done? No one can be sure, and perhaps as time goes on and individual flock members are lost, it will simply diminish in numbers. Without propagation, it will eventually, in our lifetime, become non-existent. Predation, poor habitat, food issues, power lines and drought have already claimed a figure that hits over 40% of the birds that were brought to Necedah for flight training and are gone. - Mark Chenoweth

UN HELPING TO SAVE SIBERIAN CRANE FROM BRINK OF EXTINCTION

NAM NEWS NETWORK Feb 25th, 2010

BALI (INDONESIA), Feb 25 (NNN-UNNS) — The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is helping to save the iconic Siberian Crane a critically endangered species, numbering between just 3,000 and 3,500 by stabilizing its flight path used for annual migration.

Whoopers Happening_57 One Last Time from Whooper Happenings

"We began things on an up note, reporting the flyover of the Class of 2005 the first time at Dunnellon, and we end things in anticipation and with great hope for the future of the Class of 2009. Knowing changes are pending that may also make propagation possible this year at Necedah is part of this optimism, and we honestly will look for the best year ever this summer with a few new wild chicks becoming part of the Eastern Introduced Flock." - by Mark Chenoweth

Wakkerstroom reprieved

"The WWF South Africa, the Botanical Society, Birdlife South Africa and local farmers believed Delta's environmental study was flawed. It had turned a blind eye to the pristine state of the area and to its biodiversity, including rare birds such as wattled cranes and other red data species, the groups said." - Yolandi Groenewald, Johannesburg, South Africa - Jan 29 2010 12:10

Conflict conservation

"As agriculture and industrialisation have moved ahead elsewhere, the thousand-square-kilometre DMZ, uninhabited and heavily mined, has been a refuge for two endangered birds: the white-naped and the red-crowned crane. It also contains Asiatic black bears, egrets and, according to some, an extremely rare subspecies of the Siberian tiger. The biggest threat to all this biodiversity is probably peace. There are already calls for the DMZ to be turned into a park in the event of reunification." - Feb 8th 2010 | From The Economist online

Uttarakhand Govt. spreads mass awareness on migratory birds

Haripura (Uttarakhand), Feb 4: The Uttarakhand Government has initiated a mass awareness programme about conservation of migratory birds that flock to Haripura wetland in the State among people, including children.

S. Korea's Suncheon Bay dreams of becoming world's ecological capital

SEOUL, Feb. 23, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- South Korean farmer Jeong Jong-tae, who lives in Suncheon Bay Area, is busy feeding hooded cranes at four o'clock every afternoon as it is now a season that the birds come from Siberia winter to the region's well-preserved wetlands.

Biologists spy on sandhill crane nest

With a hint of spring in the air, annual courtship rituals already are under way for many Florida birds, including the stately sandhill crane. - By Dinah Voyles Pulver , Environment writer

How national borders become natural borders.

JOSHUA E. KEATING -Field mice may not carry passports, and nobody ever asked a tree frog for a green card, but do animals care about imaginary lines on a map? In fact, national borders can become natural borders over time, with significant consequences for the nonhumans living on either side.

Zoo patients can be wild

A red-crowned crane is being gently wrangled out of a temporary holding cell and walked down a hallway toward the clinic at Granby Zoo by two zookeepers.

By ROBERT J. GALBRAITH, Freelance

Keoladeo National Park –Engulfed by Water Crisis

Kalpana Palkhiwala writes: The Keoladeo National park, a World Heritage Site which was previously the private duck shooting preserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur, designated as bird sanctuary on 13 March 1956 and a National Park on 10^th March 1982 was included in the World Heritage List in 1985. It was also notified as Ramsar Site in October 1981.

Le A short abstract on the Siberian Cranes and Keoladeo National Park

"A total of 400 species of birds, including Siberian Cranes, visited the Park in the early days. But since a few years, there's a decrease in number of migratory and wintering birds visiting Keoladeo National Park, due to the shortage of water."

India may have lost Siberian Cranes for ever

MUMBAI: For the tenth consecutive year, the majestic Siberian Cranes - among the most endangered birds in the world - have skipped India this winter, say experts.

Whoopers Happening_52 'Fly Away Home'?

"Back on November 20th, the birds were released to fly and get some exercise, after being confined to their pen for days due to rain and poor weather. But only 4 birds returned, while the other 16 kept going, actually heading south on their own! This was a first in the 9 years Operation Migration has led Whooping crane chicks from Wisconsin to Florida." - Mark Chenoweth

CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE FOR AN AUDIO COMMENTARY!

Six Foot Song

“This 50-hectare territory is actually small for such a large bird, which means that the quality of the habitat is super,” observes Gopi Sundar, a researcher with the International Crane Foundation, referring to the specific fields in western UP where the cranes thrive

Things every Texan should do before he dies: Check out whooping cranes

As soon as we clear the launch site, Chuck Naiser points the Hell's Bay skiff to the southeast on a bearing that will take us across the mouth of Saint Charles Bay, past the southernmost tip of Blackjack Peninsula and into the Intracoastal waterway west of St. Joseph Island. - Mike Leggett, Commentary

Dozens more endangered species spotted DMZ

Eight near-extinct mammals including the small-eared cat, elk, and 24 endangered birds such as the red-crowned crane were confirmed to be living in the mid-DMZ area, about 88 kilometers north of Seoul, according to joint research by Seoul's environment ministry and the National Institute of Environmental Research conducted last month.

Common Crane recognized as Bird of 2010

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ - As a result of a recent public opinion poll conducted by the Armenian Society for the Protection of Birds (ASPB) and LOLO children’s journal, the Common Crane was recognized as `Bird of 2010 ` in Armenia.

Endangered Bird Species Threatened in Western India

"There has been rapid decline in the number of Sarus Cranes, who are facing a loss of habitat. In India, a large amount of the wetlands that they live in are being converted to agricultural fields and other development activities in Ahmedabad. The wetlands are the nesting areas for these cranes."

Officials fear another whooping crane die-off

The world's last remaining natural flock of endangered whooping cranes, which suffered a record number of deaths last year, will probably see another die-off because of scarce food supplies at its Texas nesting grounds this winter, wildlife managers said.

Birds flee or die in polluted NCR

"If you thought rising pollution was harming only humans, give a thought to our winged friends. Some of the migratory birds most vulnerable to pollution include the Siberian cranes, greater flamingo, ruff, blackwinged stilt, common greenshank, northern pintail, yellow & white wagtail, northern shoveler, gadwall, black- tailed godwit, spotted redshank, starling and long- billed pipi."

Whooping cranes make 'awe-inspiring' visit to St. Marks Refuge

By Iricka Berlinger

ST. MARKS — About 300 heads quickly turned to look to the sky when someone in the crowd yelled that they saw the whooping cranes that everyone was eagerly waiting for at St. Marks Refuge on Wednesday morning....

Coming Up... and new guests at St. Mark's

"Peggy and I were at St. Mark's on Tuesday; unfortunately, the winds aloft were too strong, so we missed seeing the 10 birds fly with Brooke the next morning, Wednesday 1/13. The refuge at St. Mark's now has 10 new winter guests, who were flown over a crowd waiting in the cold, early morning hours this morning, following ultralight pilot Brooke Pennypacker".....

NGO cycles to save migratory birds - Jorhat-based group plans to hold awareness meets in village schools

Vast stretches of Jorhat and Sivasagar districts in Upper Assam are home to nearly 200 species of local birds, including greater adjutant storks, swamp partridge and Siberian cranes. Every winter, thousands of migratory birds of different species, including grey and white pelicans, flock to these areas. - A Staff reporter

Afghanistan Escalation a Bad Sign for the Country's Environment

Endangered Siberian cranes and two protected species of pelicans are the most at risk, say Pakistani ornithologists who study the area. The war's true impact on these species is not yet known, but President Obama's escalating of the combat effort in the country is not a hopeful sign.