Common Crane

Grey, tall and very loud

The crane is one of those birds of the plains and marshes that seem to have stepped out of an old tale. Tall and slender, clothed in its grey plumage, it carries a patch of vivid crimson upon its head, like a crown that enhances its wild nobility. More often than not, you hear its voice before you catch sight of its silhouette. Its deep, resonant call carries across reed beds, wetlands, and open fields like the sound of a distant trumpet. On misty mornings, the call of cranes seems to become part of the landscape itself. In spring, pairs seek one another out and perform a courtship dance as old as time. They bow, leap, spread their wings, and toss sticks into the air. The bond between them is strong and often lasts for many years. In autumn and spring, the skies of Western Europe are crossed by long lines of cranes travelling from Scandinavia and the Baltic regions to their wintering grounds in France and Spain. After a long absence, they are once again breeding in a few quiet wetland areas of the Netherlands.