South African National bird : BLUE CRANE

The Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus), also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is the national bird of South Africa.

These facts about our National bird is totally being copied from Wikepedia and therefore cannot take any credit for any part or photo in this article


Blue Cranes are birds of the dry grassy uplands, usually the pastured grasses of hills, valleys, and plains with a few scattered trees. They prefer areas in the nesting season that have access to both upland and wetland areas, though they feed almost entirely in dry areas. They are altitudinal migrants, generally nesting in the lower grasslands of an elevation of around 1,300 to 2,000 m and moving down to lower altitudes for winter. Though historically found in areas of low human disturbance, the blue crane is currently thriving in the highly transformed agricultural areas of the Western Cape. This is the only portion of its range where the population is increasing, though they still face threats such as poisoning in the region.

Decline[edit]

While it remains common in parts of its historic range, and approx. 26 000 individuals remain, it began a sudden population decline from around 1980 and is now classified as vulnerable.

In the last two decades, the Blue Crane has largely disappeared from the Eastern Cape, Lesotho, and Swaziland. The population in the northern Free State, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Province has declined by up to 90%. The majority of the remaining population is in eastern and southern South Africa, with a small and separate population in the Etosha Pan of northern Namibia. Occasionally, isolated breeding pairs are found in five neighbouring countries.

The primary causes of the sudden decline of the Blue Crane are human population growth, the conversion of grasslands into commercial tree plantations, and poisoning: deliberate (to protect crops) or accidental (baits intended for other species, and as a side-effect of crop dusting).

The South African government has stepped up legal protection for the Blue Crane. Other conservation measures are focusing on research, habitat management, education, and recruiting the help of private landowners.

My own Comments

How ever one part of government do attempt to save the Blue Crane, they do nothing in preventing the natural habitat to be destroyed and / or polluted. With my previous post I placed emphasis on what migration and most of the people in South Africa do. Both Government and other organizations just give attention to what the Tourist see and present the Blooming South Africa. I am proud of my country and Heritage and this is the reason why I bring the other side of South Africa to the world for I am afraid that maybe one day we might end up like other african nations where we would not have a ecology left and solely depend on foreign aid and feeding schemes. This is not an attack on any organization or government and I merely just exercise my rights to freedom of speech as stipulated by the Constitution of South Africa. Any inquiries or comments can be directed to my e mail : helpmehelpother@gmail.com