During these days when the cranes have so far from us, and in which the heat of summer we hardly recall their memories, these birds are currently in the reproductive process, most chickens good bigs, and I want to tell some of my experiences during the 4 times I've been lucky enough to go to the Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin (Brandenburg-Germany-) to collaborate in banding.
The close friendship that binds me to Dr. Eberhard Henne (director of the reserve until very recently) and his family took me to willingly accept their invitations, and each time was accompanied by three other friends of Extremadura, accomplished ornithologists . To take advantage of each other the opportunity to send a big hug while I remember the good times.
And coming in the banding activity was taking place for about three weeks, in which the team captured my friend Eberhard average about 50-60 adults and 5-10 chickens molt (adult listed on photos I had capture the honor despite a dramatic fall from the edge of a channel). At first glance these data may seem poor, but if I tell you, are the most productive of all equipment Cranes banding exist throughout Europe certainly changes things. And it is not easy to catch a chicken Crane: first, although here we see the cranes in large groups during the reproduction are strongly territorial, and each pair is very isolated from its neighbor, on the other side as observed here in meadows and open spaces, to raise frequent within closed forests, with stretches of deep water, fallen trees ... finally , a tangle of vegetation through which they move to perfection and we all otherwise. No wonder this type of habitat, if we consider that the Cranes are related to the Redfish, which associate themselves with these sites.
The day began with breakfast at four in the morning, at which time in those latitudes had enough light. In fact, the days I participated in census of non-breeding individuals in roost had to get up before three, and I say had, because nobody else in the group ventured ... Then, in the company of friends, who know most of the breeding sites, we moved to each of them and once there we proceeded to the location of each family from a considerable distance, using the outputs to feed on grassland . Then they decided whether the age of the chickens was adequate, and if it was, as good Germans were planning an action strategy, consisting of cut them off in their flight to forests and swamps. The approach we did it very quietly, often for nearly an hour and sometimes crawling up to 500 meters between grassland or shrubs. Just when everyone was in place, we made ourselves visible and we began the chase. However, around 30% of households get slip through the thick vegetation, and although we took over in his search finally had to give up.
Every time I had success came the ringing metal ring both as color-coded to make a further follow-up during his adult life. In addition, following a strict order, they took a series of measures and weight, and even photographed the bird to ensure that color scheme was not wrong, and finally released them within minutes. We walked away, took a bite, and to continue the task. So from early morning until nearly sunset. The long days with a German labor rate, the abundance of mosquitoes that you literally riddled, the continuous swims left you soaked clothing and the few hours of sleep, passed bill in a few days. But the balance is always up for: we work in a job that has served and will serve to know much about the biology of the Cranes, and we really, really good time in the company of good friends and outstanding people. At the end of each day a good food, long talks by the fire (those parts that felt like quite the evening), the comments of the day, a few beers, laughs, good times ... you!
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