The Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) belongs to the family Gruidae and is South Africa’s national bird.
This beautiful, regal pale blue-grey bird with its long slate-grey to black wingtip feathers and tail is currently listed on the Red Data endangered list, as its numbers have declined with so much as 90%.
Historically, blue cranes occurred mainly in the grassland biome along the eastern section of the country. The loss of the natural grasslands in the Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, and the replacement of the natural vegetation with wheat and dryland pastures in the wheat producing regions of the Swartland and Overberg in the Western Cape, changed the distribution and demographics of the blue crane population.
Today the largest numbers of blue cranes can be found in the Western Cape (± 12 000 birds), with a smaller population in the Northern/Eastern Cape (± 5 000 birds) and the rest (± 5 000 birds) occurring in the remainder of its current distribution range.
Blue cranes breed only once a year, produce two chicks at a time and have an elaborate mating dance over a couple of weeks before any actual mating takes place.
The birds are known to go through both a partial moult as well as a complete moult, when they become flightless. On the Agulhas plains, blue cranes go through a synchronised moulting during the second half of summer. Birds going through flightless moult form large flocks in areas where disturbance is less frequent and close to water bodies into which they can escape when threatened. The cranes seem to frequent specific sites for moulting and these sites need to be identified and conserved. The time needed to re-grow flight feathers could take up to two months.
Gateway to the Overberg – An Introduction:
Within driving distance of South Africa’s Mother City, lies a region of contrasts and wonder. The Overberg has rugged mountain ranges, fynbos, rolling wheat and canola fields, and splendid coastal vistas. It is for you to reflect, discover and have a geocache adventure worth remembering.
Once on this side of the mountain, the traveller will find a myriad of roads into the Overberg where the land, mountains, sea and people tell their own story. The Overberg is a region that stretches along coasts with beautiful beaches, and over mountain ranges with interesting geological formations, abundant birdlife and unique fynbos. The roads will take you on a journey through valleys with picturesque vineyards, orchards and beautiful landscapes of green, gold and brown.
Memories from the past – as illustrated by the Overberg’s rich collection of mission stations, shipwrecks and old architectural treasures – exist harmoniously with new town developments, ensuring visitors find all they need.
So get away from life’s mad rush and pay the Overberg a visit. Here, on our roads, you will have the freedom to decide whether to turn left, right, stop or drive on slowly.
Suikerbossies are a South African geocaching team.
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