The Wattled Crane
The Wattled Crane is from Zambia, Africa. There are only 8000 of them left and like most of the Cranes they face many threats to their existence. In the large floodplain systems the breeding and feeding cycles of the Wattled Cranes are linked to the natural flood cycles of the rivers. They are triggered to nest as flood waters begin receding after peak flooding. Nesting in shallow open water ensures that nests will be protected from predators and wildfires but will not be drowned by further rising flood waters. Their food source is also located in these floodplains ... the underground tubers of the Spike Rush. Destruction, alteration and degradation of wetland habitats constitutes the most significant threat to these birds. They raise only one chick and the chick is slow to gain independence. Factors which also lend to the species vulnerability.
The Wattled Crane is larger than other African Cranes with a high pitched squeaky call resembling a boy struggling through the voice changes of adolescence. They get their name from the two partially feathered wattles on their necks that shrink when the bird is afraid.
"Only when the last tree has died
and the last river has been poisoned
and the last fish has been caught
will we realize
we cannot eat money."
and the last river has been poisoned
and the last fish has been caught
will we realize
we cannot eat money."
... Unknown
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