Order – Gruiformes
Family – Gruiidae (Cranes)
Species – Grus nigricallis Przevalski, 1876
Altitude – 4300-5500m.

Distribution

Recorded in winter from Yuunan and Tankin region of North Vietnam. Within the limits of the Himalaya, it is found in Arunachal Pradesh, Wetlands of extreme eastern ladak (breeding), south central and south-eastern Tibet plateau, and Bhutan. In nepal it is seen in Pokhara valley (begnas lake).

Habits and Ecology

It was first discovered by Great Russian naturalist Prgewalski in 1976 near Lake Kokonor in northern tibet. Of 15 species of cranes known to science, the graceful and rarest black-necked crane was last taken identified. It is entirally endangered species alongwith 6 other crane species.

Black-necked crane is remarkable for its difficult habitat and unique migratory pattern. Within Indian limit, Ladak is the only accessible region where this vanishing species can be observed. In nepal the Begnas area of Pokhara is accessible. The lakes and wetland areas support enormous high-altitude bista. The black-necked crane has been seen picking up various food items such as insects, fallen grain and vegetal matter including small tubers and roots near water channel in its feeding ground.

The diet also includes earthworms, grasshoppers, small bugs, beetles and even flies. Tikader (1983) has also recorded small vertebrates among its food items.

Distinctively, these cranes fly in a wide V-formation with neck and legs outstretched and heavy flapping of the broad wings. The only crane that nests at high altitudes that breeds in Ladakh. Tibet and Southern China between 4300-4600m and uses read beds and open fallow paddy fields for its winter quarters. Their nests are difficult of access and built on bogs in marshes, a factor which makes eggs and young vulnerable. Shortages of marshes in these high altitudes often show a single pair in a breeding place.

Breeding black-necked crane in captivity has been unsuccessful despite of all scientific efforts. Habitat preservation and strict ban on poaching is the only means of safeguarding for this vanishing bird. The innate biology of crane makes it highly sensitive to environmental disturbances by mean and grazing animals.

The crane is monogamous and remates only when a porter dies. The reproductive capacity is low and female lays only two eggs. It however raises only are chick due to limited time before winter and insufficient food available.

Large size makes the crane conspicuous in the flatland and exposes it to the mance of its enemies in particular poac her or human population exploition resulting in encroachment.

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) USA is new launching efforts to some black-nacked c ranes with joint co-operation of all member countries like India China USSR Pakistan etc.

They breed during May-July. Call is more or less like that of sarus cranes (Sarus antegone), but the pitch is higher courtship is very elaborate and both sexes take part.

The nest is a huge deep pod of vegetation constructed in marshy grounds. A normal clutch has two eggs that are greenish-grey or olive-grey with faint crude sptoches of reddish brown all over the broader end. Average size of 12 eggs was 101.2x64.1m (Bakes). The incubation period is not known.

Status

Ruthless habitat destruction of habitat and the loss of ecological security has led the black-necked crane in danger to extinction.

No accurate census has been conducted on the population of these cranes in Tibet. Though migratory, it makes only sudden and hurried appearance from time to time.

In the Himalayas, the population being low, if not protected it will be as dead as Dodo very shortly. If urgent attention for conservation is not given for this species it will be targeted for extinction by both man and nature.

Distinctive characters

A fairly large crane, standing 156cm in height on standing above the ground. The general coloration of the body is distinctly pub grey, almost white, except for the black neck, head and feet. The bill is greenish in color. The loves and the entire crown are bare and dull red. A patch of white feather occurs behind and below each eye. The tail is covered with drooping black plumes. The crane species is unique in its exquisitely graceful demeanors, trumpeting in unison, empyrean ballet during courtship display and extra conjugal devotion (Hussain, 1983). Sexes alike, but female slightly smaller.