Justification This species has declined rapidly, largely owing to direct poisoning, power-line collisions and loss of its grassland breeding habitat owing to afforestation, mining, agriculture and development. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable. Although probably stable at present, the population could easily decline again unless appropriate conservation measures are implemented. Evidence of continued population stability or increases may qualify the species for downlisting to Near Threatened in due course.

Family/Sub-family Gruidae

Species name author (Lichtenstein, 1793)

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Synonyms Anthropoides paradisea Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993)

Identification 100 -120 cm. Small, blue-grey crane. Overall greyish at distance, with long, decurved "tail" (very long tertials). Very pale blue, unusually large head, with proportionately thin neck. Similar spp. Immature Wattled Crane G. carunculatus very much larger, with white on breast and neck. Voice Loud, guttural ringing calls, often made when flying or in pairs. Typical crane-like honkings. Hints Sometimes in large flocks in open pastures in Drakensberg foothills, grassy Karoo, Western Cape wheatlands (South Africa) and on the grasslands within and north of Etosha National Park, Namibia.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

26,000

decreasing

887,000 km²

No

Range & population Grus paradisea is near-endemic to South Africa, with small breeding populations also in northern Namibia (c.70 birds at Etosha, isolated but stable⁹ after rapidly declining in 1980s-1990s) and western Swaziland (c.12 birds)⁴, and it is occasionally seen in Lesotho¹¹. In South Africa, numbers in the south and south-western Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have increased as the species has expanded into agricultural areas¹¹ but, overall, the national population has fallen by half since the 1970s, with dramatic declines in many former strongholds, e.g. of up to 80% in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Eastern Cape during the 1980s^1,2. The increase in the Western Cape has accompanied the conversion of fynbos and renosterveld vegetation to agricultural land¹³. The population in the central Karoo region is presently stable¹³. The population has been estimated at c.25,700 individuals^5,7, but more recently at over 25,580 individuals¹², with a minimum of 25,520 in South Africa¹³.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Behaviour This species is a partial migrant which makes local, seasonal movements across elevational gradients (best documented in Natal)^1,16. There is also some movement into the Karoo biome during the winter months¹⁶. However in some areas it appears to be resident or locally nomadic¹⁵. It breeds, usually at high elevations, between August and April, with a distinct peak in November in South Africa, December to March in Namibia, and November in Botswana¹⁵. It is a territorial, solitary breeder¹⁵, and while nesting has been found to occur at a density of 0.57 pairs per square kilometre of appropriate habitat¹. After breeding there is movement to lower altitudes, where the species becomes highly congregatory, occurring regularly in flocks of around 50¹⁷, and occasionally numbering up to 1000¹⁵. It roosts at night, often communally, with roosts being known to comprise hundreds and sometimes thousands of birds¹⁵. Habitat Breeding This species breeds in natural grass- and sedge-dominated habitats, preferring secluded grasslands at high elevations where the vegetation is thick and short¹. Occasionally it will breed in or near wetland areas¹, in pans or on islands in dams¹⁵. Particularly in W Cape of South Africa it also uses lowland agricultural areas, particularly pasture, fallow fields and cereal crop fields as stubble becomes available after harvest^1,15. A few pairs in this area also breed in the coastal dunes¹⁵. Non-breeding During the non-breeding season the species occurs at lower altitudes¹⁸. It inhabits short, dry, natural grasslands, as well as the Karoo and fynbos biomes¹. In the Karoo it is mainly restricted to areas where summer rainfall exceeds 300mm¹⁵ and where grassland vegetation rather than scrub is dominant¹. In the fynbos it occurs almost exclusively in cultivated habitats, largely avoiding the natural vegetation¹, although this habitat may provide important cover for juveniles⁸. The agricultural habitats that it uses include pastures, croplands, particularly where cereal crops are grown¹, and fallow fields. It is intolerant of intensively grazed and burnt grassland¹⁵. It roosts in shallow wetlands^1,15. Diet This species feeds primarily on plant material including the seeds of sedges and grasses, roots, tubers and small bulbs^14,15. It also takes a variety of animals including insects such as locusts and their eggs, grasshoppers, termites and caterpillars, worms, crabs, fish, frogs, reptiles and small mammals^14,15. In agricultural areas it feeds on cereal grains such as wheat and maize, and also eats invertebrate crop pests^14,15. Breeding site In wetland breeding sites the nest is a simple pad of wetland vegetation^15,18. Elsewhere it may consist of a layer of small stones, dry vegetation or mammal dung^15,18, or eggs may be laid directly on the grass or on bare ground¹. Preferred nesting sites usually have good all-round visibility¹⁵.

Threats The main factors behind its drastic population decline since the 1970s were widespread poisoning on agricultural land (both intentional and accidental²) and the commercial afforestation of large tracts of its grassland nesting habitat^1,2. Poisoning has decreased dramatically over the last few years. Accidental poisoning, however, still occurs occasionally when grain is soaked in agrochemicals for the capture of wildlife for food, although cranes are not usually the target species, and also as a result of the misuse of agrochemicals¹¹. Cranes are social birds and poisoning incidences often involve a number of individuals¹¹. Afforestation is ongoing and large tracts of suitable grassland habitat have been designated for afforestation over the few years following 2007 in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape¹¹. Other major threats include collision with power-lines, which is now arguably the major cause of mortality and could have been a major hidden cause before lines were monitored¹¹, entanglement with fences, illegal capture of fledglings (for pets or food), predation by domestic dogs and the drowning of chicks in water-troughs^1,2. In the Western Cape, the species is threatened by a change in agricultural crops and increases in the human population in agricultural areas^8,11. Climate change could force changes in agricultural practices that may be detrimental to the species¹¹. Prolonged dry spells and the resultant competition with domestic stock for habitat at such times are considered a major threat in Namibia^6,11.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. Conservation measures have expanded in scale since the mid-1980s, including efforts to mitigate power-line collisions, the adoption of stricter legal protection, local and national surveys in South Africa, increasing research on the species's biology and ecology, habitat protection and management programmes (especially on private land), establishment of local conservation organisations, and the development of educational facilities, programmes and publications^1,2. The introduction of more ecologically sensitive agrochemicals and tighter controls over their use has reduced the number of poisoning events¹¹. The formation of a Crane Working Group in Namibia has facilitated education, surveys, ringing and protection¹⁰. Future studies in Namibia will assess whether its population is genetically isolated from that in South Africa, and will use transmitters to help study habitat use, their choice of breeding areas and the occurrence of inter-breeding⁹.

Conservation measures proposed Prevent conversion of grassland habitat to other land uses¹¹. Monitor the species's population trends through regular surveys. Include habitat management in future planning of afforestable regions². Encourage more responsible use of agrochemicals². Target awareness campaigns at the farming community so as to increase awareness and reduce deliberate poisoning of cranes for food^2,11. Make hazardous power-lines more visible with appropriate devices². Discourage the taking of fledglings from the wild². Encourage the retention of a mosaic of pasture and cereal cultivation in the Western Cape⁸. Increase conservation protection of grasslands and wetlands north of Etosha National Park¹¹.

References 1. Archibald and Meine (1996). 2. Barnes (2000). 3. Harrison et al. (1997). 4. Parker (1994). 5. Simmons et al. (1996). 6. R. Simmons in litt. (1999). 7. McCann et al. (2005). 8. Bidwell et al. (2006). 9. Simmons et al. (2006). 10. R. Simmons in litt. (2007). 11. K. Morrison et al. in litt. (2007). 12. Beilfuss et al. (2007). 13. McCann et al. (2007). 14. del Hoyo et al. (1996). 15. Hockey et al. (2005). 16. Vernon et al. (1992). 17. Filmer and Holtshausen (1992). 17. Walkinshaw (1973)

Further web sources of information

International Crane Foundation Species Field Guide

Status, Survey and Conservation Action Plan

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Mike Evans (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Mark Anderson (North Cape Dep. of Tourism, Env. and Conservation), Bradley Gibbons (Endangered Wildlife Trust), Kerryn Morrison (ICF/EWT Partnership), Ann Scott (Namibia Crane Working Group), Mike Scott (Namibia Crane Working Group), Kevin Shaw (Western Cape Nature Conservation Board), Leon Theron (Endangered Wildlife Trust)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Grus paradisea. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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