Psilos Bird Photography |
Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoide virgo) |
Martinmere have three species of cranes in their
collection and the Demoiselle, the smallest and the daintiest of all
the worlds cranes, is my favourite. These birds breed all across the
old Russian southern border and winter in northeastern Africa, India
and Pakistan. The demoiselles have a very agile stature and although
they are quite large birds standing nearly one metre tall they only
weigh up to 6lbs. |
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The diet of the demoiselle can be quite varied.
Plants such as grass seed or other seed crops can be eaten and in the
summer their diet is supplemented with invertebrates, including beetles,
other large insects and worms. Larger animals such as lizards are also
eaten. Male and female demoiselles mature sexually at about 2 years
of age and form lifelong monogamous pair bonds. |
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