Crane Life
PROTECTION AND LIFE OF CRANES
IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND WIDER
Foto: Markéta Ticháčková
ABOUT
We are dedicated to the protection and monitoring of cranes. Nowadays, it is mainly Common Crane in the Czech Republic, where we tag and monitor the birds with color rings. We regularly visit cranes’ roosting places and wintering grounds elsewhere in Europe. Detailed monitoring of crane movements is provided by GPS-GSM transmitters.
The knowledge of all grounds used by cranes both during nesting and on migration routes is very important for the subsequent conservation of these often critically endangered birds. We want to use our long-term experience in the protection of other cranes species elsewhere in the world.
The project is supported by Ostrava Zoo (GPS-GSM transmitters and operating costs), Liberec Zoo (GPS-GSM transmitters) and Kranichschutz Deutchland (color rings and internet database).
ABOUT CRANES
Cranes are large birds of the order Gruiformes. They have specific calls that can make them very noticeable. There are 15 crane species living in the world, of which 11 are endangered. The most vulnerable are the three white-colored species: the Siberian Crane, the Red-crowned Crane and the Whooping Crane.
Only one species occurs in Central and Western Europe, the Common Crane (Grus grus). About 200 pairs of Common Crane nest in the Czech Republic.
COLOR MARKING
In Europe, cranes are marked with a color ring system. The color combination on the left leg indicates the state of origin of the crane and the right leg bears an individual code. Color codes are read from the top to the bottom, the left leg first, followed by the right leg.
Observations can be recorded in the iCORA Internet database.
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Crane life is a part of the Czech Coalition for Biodiversity Conservation CCBC.
