Populations of the Demoisell Crane (Anthropoides virgo) that once nested near the Black Sea are in decline, and those that used to visit Turkey are nearly extinct. (Map of nesting locations and migration routes.)
Very little is known about the birds that once nested in the Atlas mountains of North Africa. It is the Asian birds that are doing well.
Demoiselle Cranes Nesting in Asia
There are three distinct groups of Demoiselle Crane that visit Asia. One nests in the far east, one in Khazakhstan, and the third between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea (in Kalmykia). These locations are so remote that it is difficult to visit the breeding grounds, but it is possible to see the birds on migration and in their winter quarters to the.
Winter Migration of the Demoiselle Crane
Birds from the Black Sea fly south to Africa in the winter, often stopping off in Cyprus on the way.
Asian birds cross the Himalayas to winter in India, and sometimes they reach incredible heights – up to 26,000 ft.
Watching Migrating Demoiselle Cranes
The few birds that fly over Cyprus every year are the most accessible. From the middle of August until the end of September they can occasionally be seen on the salt flats at Akrotiri. They feed early, and then wait for thermals to develop before leaving around 10 a.m.
Large numbers of birds cross the Himalayas each year, but the remoteness and difficulty of the terrain makes birdwatching here difficult.
Watching Demoiselle Cranes in their Winter Quarters in Kheechan
The villagers of Kheechan (Khichan) have fed wintering Demoiselle Cranes for many years. As a result there is now a large population around the village from the end of September to March. (George Archibald, director of International Crane Foundation, has said that ‘Kheechan is unique’.) Kheechan village is near the border with Pakistan, in north-west India, very near the Thar desert.
Flying Over the Himalayas and Climate Change
The Asian populations of the Demoiselle Crane have obviously been flying over the Himalayas for a very long time. They have adapted to the steady uplifting of this mountain range over geological timescales.
Threats to these populations come from human land usage and hunting, but not from the great height of the mountains – but the timing of their autumn crossing is critical. It is arranged to take place before the bad weather of winter sets in.
What effect will changes in climate have on these migrations? What if the (genetically programmed) timing of the flight south is no longer the same as the time the bad storms arise, and the birds regularly attempt to cross in extreme conditions?
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