Grey Crowned Crane
Place to admire: Animal Plaza
Scientific name: Balearica regulorum
IUCN-status: Endangered
How is my day in the wild?
At sunrise, I wake up. After a good stretching session, a little brushing and after drinking some water, I move to another part of the roost site to continue brushing the plumage. I then move to a grassland to start foraging. The diet consists of both animal and plant materials.
During the breeding season, I keep myself busy throughout the day by foraging, brushing my plumage and that of my partner, socializing with my partner and taking care of our young.
When evening falls during the breeding season, my partner and I return to our nest to guard and continue incubating the nest at night. Our nest is usually located in the wetlands. If I already have chicks, I hide the chicks among vegetation and roost near nearby trees.
Outside the breeding season, I spend my day foraging, brushing my and my partner’s plumage and socializing with my partner and swarm mates.
In the evening, I return to the roost site with my partner and swarm mates. These are usually trees, but we may also sleep on the ground. Outside the breeding season, the swarm provides additional security and juveniles and singles can search for a mate.
Did you know?
The Grey Crowned Crane is an Endangered species. Its population in the wild is declining. The main threats to this species are: loss and degradation of wetlands (nesting habitat), hunting and egg taking for the (illegal) trade, recreation and high mortality due to collisions with power lines.
