Red-crowned crane - description, habitat, interesting facts

Japanese crane means a beautiful and majestic bird, surrounded by legends. An individual of this variety is whitish with black marks. Since ancient times, human interest in these birds has not subsided. People continue to study the species, discovering more and more new aspects affecting these birds. Today we will study everything that concerns them. We give information regarding breeding, nutritional features, general lifestyle, etc.

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1. As the name implies, Japan is rightfully considered the country of origin of these birds. There, individuals of the pedigree variety are classified as sacred. The Japanese believe that cranes represent purity and fidelity.
2. Local residents also believe in the fulfillment of desires, all dreams can become a reality, and goals can be achieved. Partly for this reason, the Japanese create thousands of paper cranes and place them in their homes. The crane has long been a feathered symbol of China and Japan.
3. All human values ​​are connected with the crane. It is about prosperity, family well-being, longevity, wealth. The image of a feathered bird personifies success, a person seeks to decorate his house with statuettes.
4. Due to the fact that, according to their natural habitat, these birds decreased in number, this makes them even more mysterious. The Japanese and other peoples of our planet are trying to keep their appearance, protecting and protecting it in every way.

Description and habitat

1. The specimen of this species is understood as a large bird, which reaches 160 cm in growth. As for the mass of the body, these indicators vary within 8-10 kg. Naturally, it can’t do without a mark of the wingspan, namely 2.5 m. By plumage, these birds are whitish, but dark marks can also be observed on the body.
2. The neck is black, an oblong line of white tone flaunts on it. The feather feathers in the lower part are also black, making the silhouette slim and noble. In adults, a red cap is displayed on the head. Legs are long, slender, grayish, dark. As for gender differences, females are smaller than males.
3. Young animals are painted differently than the older generation. When the chicks are just born, they look reddish. Over time, they change the plumage, which in type resembles mixed plumage. The outfit contains feathers of a brownish, white, brown, gray tone. The head is not covered locally. When the younger generation grows up, then puts on an outfit of adults.
4. By their natural habitat, these birds are common in China and Japan. They are divided into several main varieties. There are cranes of the island population, which often lead a sedentary lifestyle. They live in the Kuril Islands, as well as in Hokkaido. Prefer cold climatic regions.
5. There is also a population of mainland birds, which by their natural characteristics are migratory. These individuals are dispersed throughout the expanses of our country, as well as in China, Korea and Mongolia. They love warm places, so they go there for the winter.
   6. It is worth mentioning separately about the national conservation area located in China. Many members of the family are concentrated there. On the territory of about 85 thousand square meters. km More than 2 thousand individuals live.
6. These birds are declining in their population due to the human factor. Dams are being built, the environment is being polluted, the volume of undeveloped land is decreasing, agricultural land is expanding, and other aspects affect the number of cranes.

Lifestyle

1. Birds are most active in the daytime. They gather in packs and go to feed. They get food in the reed zone, in marshy areas.
2. The life of these birds includes various rituals. They have a lot of poses, voice messages, movements that help communicate with each other and express feelings. This kind of behavior is called crane dance; it unites birds of different age categories.
3. Often, only one individual starts the ritual. Only after some time the remaining individuals gradually begin to join. As a result, the whole flock begins to participate in dancing. It is worth noting that many movements from such rituals were borrowed by people for folk dances.
4. The considered individuals perform unusual jumps, while the birds spread their wings widely. They also rotate their legs beautifully in the air. Birds perform wave-like movements, bowing and tossing shreds of grass. Cranes twist their beaks in different directions. In this way, they show mood and relationship.
5. In many folk traditions, the individuals in question are a symbol of health, happiness, prosperity and longevity. If you believe the legends, it is worth noting that when the crane approaches a person, the latter will be waiting for great luck. Before a lucky person, a calm and self-sufficient life opens.
6. In Japanese environmentalists, the crane symbol flaunts as an emblem on overalls. Such people try to preserve rare species of birds. To do this, they are engaged in their breeding in a special nursery. It is worth noting that cranes breed very poorly outside of the wild.
7. Also, there is no sense in letting birds go free. They are simply not ready for this. Birds will be exposed to many dangers. Cranes are listed in the Red Book, they disappear. Throughout the world, such individuals are protected. As in most cases, the population of individuals is declining due to human factors.

Nutrition

1. Cranes' daily diets can include both plant and animal foods. Often such birds feed on aquatic creatures. They feast on shellfish and fish. Cranes also eat frogs, small birds and rodents, caterpillars, beetles, insects, worms and even eggs from nests.
2. It is interesting to observe how cranes behave during feeding. They lower their heads to water and freeze. Birds wait when prey gets as close as possible. Individuals grab the victim and swallow it with incredible speed. Cranes also eat rhizomes, plant buds, grains, young shoots, etc.

Breeding

1. Birds begin nesting in the spring. Often this season falls at the end of March or the beginning of April. It is worth noting that cranes are monogamous pairs. When individuals begin to reunite, they make very beautiful and complex melodic sounds. Birds merge in joint singing.
2. At this time, the cranes are standing together, while their beaks are raised. The male tries to spread his wings as wide as possible. The female, on the contrary, folds them along the body. Often a nest is built in tall grass, which is located near the water. At this time, the male begins to very carefully guard the offspring and his female.

Cranes are unique individuals that are on the verge of extinction. At the moment, the birds are under protection. The cause of death of birds is human factors. Cranes burn out due to the burning of swamps. Among other things, many legends are composed of the individuals under consideration. Such captive birds can survive up to 80 years!

Video: Japanese crane (Grus japonensis)