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| A red-crowned crane in Kushiro Shitsugan National Park, Japan Photo by Tzuhsun Hsu, CC BY-SA 2.0 License |
Distribution
A resident population of red-crowned cranes is found on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, where the Kushiro Shitsugan National Park is located. The crane population is increasing here. Migratory populations of the bird are seen in China, Russia, and the Korean Peninsula. Unfortunately, these populations are in trouble.
Reproduction
Physical Appearance
The red-crowned crane has a white, black, and red coloration. Its face and its long neck are black, except for a white patch on the side of the face and the top of the neck. The colors make a nice contrast with the red crown. Most of the body is white, but there are black patches on the wings. The bird has a long bill and long and thin legs, like other cranes.
Adult red-crowned cranes are around five feet tall and have a wingspan of around eight feet. They weigh up to twenty-five pounds and are one of the biggest cranes on the planet. The birds are impressive animals.
Adult red-crowned cranes are around five feet tall and have a wingspan of around eight feet. They weigh up to twenty-five pounds and are one of the biggest cranes on the planet. The birds are impressive animals.
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| Red-crowned cranes displaying Photo by cyberfox, CC BY 2.1 JP license |
Daily Life
The crane lives in a large flock. It forages on wetlands with the other birds in its flock. These wetlands include both freshwater and saltwater marshes and the land beside rivers. The bird also enters the rivers to feed. It has an omnivorous diet and eats fish, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, and small mammals as well as grass, reeds, and berries. It also eats grain distributed by humans.
In Japan, people support the crane population by feeding the birds grain and fish at feeding stations and other areas. At least some of the people of Hokkaido respect the birds and have done much to help them. The birds face snow and ice in winter on the island, but this doesn't seem to bother them. They are said to roost in deep water that doesn't freeze.
The birds have an interesting display in which they gather in groups, throw their head back, and call, as shown in the photo above and video below. They may also expand their wings and jump into the air during the display. The display is often referred to as a dance. It takes place at any time of the year but seems to be most common during the breeding season.
In Japan, people support the crane population by feeding the birds grain and fish at feeding stations and other areas. At least some of the people of Hokkaido respect the birds and have done much to help them. The birds face snow and ice in winter on the island, but this doesn't seem to bother them. They are said to roost in deep water that doesn't freeze.
The birds have an interesting display in which they gather in groups, throw their head back, and call, as shown in the photo above and video below. They may also expand their wings and jump into the air during the display. The display is often referred to as a dance. It takes place at any time of the year but seems to be most common during the breeding season.
An Important Symbol
The birds reportedly live for up to twenty years in the wild and up to forty years—or even longer—in captivity. The animal's lifespan hasn't been well studied. The birds have become a symbol of loyalty, long life, and luck. They are used as an icon on many products and services in Japan. A stylized bird is the symbol for Japan Airlines. When they are referred to symbolically, the birds are often called tancho cranes.
The birds reportedly live for up to twenty years in the wild and up to forty years—or even longer—in captivity. The animal's lifespan hasn't been well studied. The birds have become a symbol of loyalty, long life, and luck. They are used as an icon on many products and services in Japan. A stylized bird is the symbol for Japan Airlines. When they are referred to symbolically, the birds are often called tancho cranes.
Reproduction
Red-crowned cranes are monogamous, which means they keep the same partner for life. They build their nest in wetlands containing areas of deep water. The females most often lay two eggs. Both the female and the male incubate the eggs. Incubation lasts for around thirty days. The youngsters stay with their parents until the next breeding season.
Why Are Red-Crowned Cranes Endangered?
The birds are in trouble for multiple reasons. The loss of their wetland habitat is the main one. Humans are taking over the cranes' traditional habitats for agriculture and industry. Pollution, the presence of invasive species, and a changing environment are other threats. The bird sometimes collides with power lines during flight.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies the crane as endangered. Only around 1,830 mature individuals are believed to exist. The IUCN says that the overall population is decreasing.
Some people are helping the cranes. The birds are doing quite well on the island of Hokkaido because of these efforts. The migratory populations need help, however. I hope they get it. The red-crowned crane is a beautiful and intriguing bird.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies the crane as endangered. Only around 1,830 mature individuals are believed to exist. The IUCN says that the overall population is decreasing.
Some people are helping the cranes. The birds are doing quite well on the island of Hokkaido because of these efforts. The migratory populations need help, however. I hope they get it. The red-crowned crane is a beautiful and intriguing bird.
References
Information about the red-crowned crane from Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Grus japonensis entry on the IUCN Red List
Facts about the bird from the International Crane Foundation
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