Uganda’s National Bird, “The Grey-crowned Crane”.
The Grey-crowned Crane is among the beautiful birds in the Crane family Gruidae, found in eastern and southern Africa, and is the national bird of Uganda – THE PEARL OF AFRICA. It occupies a prime position on Uganda’s flag and on the coat of arms on the right of the shield. It is 104cm, and 3 feet with weight of about 3-4kgs. This elegant bird (Balearica regulorum) graces in many Africa’s wetlands. The head is black with white cheek patches, the neck is pale grey, the grey plumage contracts sharply with black and white wings, and it has a crest of golden feathers sitting on top of the head, a bright red gular pouch that hangs from the throat. These birds were once widespread, but only about 10,000 to 20,000 gray crowned cranes are left in Uganda, compared with an estimated 100,000 four decades ago, according to statistics from Nature Uganda and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. The grey crowned-crane is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. They are non-migratory, but undertake variable local and seasonal movements.
HABITAT
The Grey Crowned Crane is habited in grassland, marshes and cultivated areas near lakes and rivers giving rapid pecks to reach the food. This crane feeds on seed heads of sedges and the fresh parts of the grasses. It may uproot some plants, and sometimes stamps feet when searching for invertebrates and small preys such as insects, frogs and lizards on the ground. Because of this foraging lifestyle, the crested crane has easily adapted to human settlements, with many living side-by-side with human beings.
BEHAVIOR
The grey crowned crane has a breeding display involving dancing, bowing, and jumping. It has a booming call which involves inflation of the red gular sac. It also makes a honking sound quite different from that of other crane species. Both sexes dance, and immature birds join the adults. Dancing is an integral part of courtship, but also may be done at any time of the year.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
Grey-crowned cranes may live up to 22 years in the wild or 25 in captivity.
REPRODUCTION
The grey crowned crane is monogamous specie and appears to mate for life. Breeding mainly occurs in the rainy season of October through April with peaks in December and February. They select areas to breed especially in standing water or places near it. Sometimes they nest where the vegetation is tall for protection and for maximum visibility with only its head showing. They lay 2 to 4 eggs. The eggs are incubated for a period of 28 to 30 days. The newly laid eggs are light blue and after 12 hours, they are capable of swimming or floating and in 24 hours they begin eating and moving in search for food with the adults.
FEEDING
They feed on tips of grasses, seeds, insects and other invertebrates, small vertebrates, groundnuts, soybeans, maize and millet.
FLIGHT
The Grey Crowned Crane has powerful flight, but it has to run before to take flight. The wing beats are strong and steady, but it also uses thermals.
THREATS
The Grey Crowned Crane is the most abundant species of the African cranes; however, they are declining in number due to degradation for human development. Also climatic conditions such as drought, overgrazing, hunting and use of pesticides have led to their decrease in number.
