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