Cranes and Rails

Information about the Demoiselle Crane:

The Demoiselle Crane is a species of bird found in central Eurasia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. They are migratory birds, traveling from western Eurasia to spend the winters in Africa, whereas the birds from Asia, Mongolia and China will spend the winter in the Indian subcontinent. The Demoiselle Crane lives in a variety of different environments, including desert areas and numerous types of grasslands (flooded, mountain, temperate and tropical grassland) which are often close to streams or lakes. However, when nesting, they prefer patchy areas of vegetation which is tall enough to conceal them and their nests, yet short enough to allow them look out for predators whilst incubating their eggs. Demoiselle Cranes have to take one of the toughest migrations in the world; In late August through September, they gather in flocks of up to 400 individuals and prepare for their flight to their winter range. During their migratory flight south, Demoiselles fly like all cranes, with their head and neck straight forward and their feet and legs straight behind, reaching altitudes of 16,000-26,000 feet (4,875-7,925 meters). Along their arduous journey they have to cross the Himalayan mountains to get to their over-wintering grounds in India. The bird is symbolically significant in the culture of North India and Pakistan, where it is known as the koonj. The poster is printed on matte, museum-quality paper with Giclée printing quality: • Paper thickness: 10.3 mil • Paper weight: 5.6 oz/y² (192 g/m²) • Opacity: 94% Buy a Digital Download