Common Crane Migration in France, Season 2005/2006

The first flight, heading towards the north-east, was observed in the Allier (03), on Jan. 18^th. Two days later, 80 birds were spotted in the Charente (16). Between Jan. 13^th and Feb. 17^th, 18 departments reported movements towards the north-east. During this period, numbers on the Der lake (51/52) fluctuated a great deal. For example, on Jan. 22^nd there were fewer than 3,000 cranes present, whereas a week later, more than 18,000 birds left the same site, setting a new record for late January which held until Feb. 5^th, when there were still 15,650 birds present. On Jan. 30^th, 15,000 cranes landed in Captieux (33/40) and 20,000 in Arjuzanx (44).
First small wave (18.02.06 – 20.02.06)	This period really began in earnest on Feb. 18^th, when 900 cranes flew over the Haute-Vienne (87) and the Nièvre (58). More than 1,000 were seen in the Cher (18). A more unusual sight was that of flocks of birds seen over the Haute-Saone (70). The following day, movements became more intensive and numbers more substantial: the Dordogne (24) and the Charente (16) with 2,000 cranes, the Indre (36) 4,800, the Cher (18) more than 8,300 and also the Allier (03), the Nièvre (58), the Loiret (45), the Yonne (89), the Champagne-Ardenne and the Meuse (55). On Feb. 20^th, movements decreased somewhat, with just over 1,000 cranes flying over the Haute-Vienne (87).
First large wave & departures from Spain (23.02.06 – 15.03.06)	From Feb. 23^rd, large flights were recorded in France: 2,000 in the Cher (18) and in the Charente (16). On the following day, thousands of birds left the Sotonera site in Spain, heading for France, where flights were soon visible: more than 22,000 birds in the Haute-Vienne (87) in the course of the day. Between Feb. 25^th and 27th, 17 departments recorded flights. On Feb. 28^th, 50,000 cranes had gathered on the Sotonera site in Spain, waiting for favourable weather conditions – an unheard-of event on this site! Moreover, they were joined by birds coming from Gallocanta. The night of Feb. 28^th - March 1^st marked the beginning of a large migratory wave. Commencing at 21.00 hrs, birds coming from Spain began their flight over the Pyrenees. However, darkness made accurate estimates impossible. On March 1^st, fine weather, calm conditions and good visibility over the Pyrenees gave rise to a massive migratory wave. More than 40,000 birds headed towards France between 10.00 and 11.30 hrs. The spectacle was superb and was soon visible in south-west and central France. Flights were recorded over most of the departments situated between the Pyrenees and the Nièvre. Many birds had already reached Germany: 20,000 cranes were recorded in Hesse region. Flights continued throughout the day on March 2^nd, not only on the main migratory route but also over some peripheral departments such as the Oise (18), the Deux-Sèvres (79), the Tarn-et-Garonne (82) and the Jura (39). March 2^nd was also another outstanding day for migration: from early morning, thousands of cranes flew over the Aube (10) heading towards the Der lake (51/52). At the same time, numerous flights of more than 28,000 birds left this site situated in the north of the Haute-Marne (52). As well as the main migratory route, where flights are frequent, such as in the Lot-et-Garonne (47) with 7,000 cranes, a number of birds were seen off-course to the west. A case in point is the fact that almost all the departments in the Ile-de-France including Paris (75) recorded flights of cranes. Even more to the west, birds were observed in the Seine-Maritime. On March 4^th, migration continued but to a lesser degree. There were still over 5,000 birds in Spain, waiting for favourable weather conditions. The previous day, a number of cranes attempted to fly over the Pyrenees but turned back due to poor visibility. On March 5^th, the behaviour of the cranes on the Der lake exemplifies the situation: of the 22,000 birds leaving the site, more than 18,000 migrated towards the north-east, while a number of birds remaining on the lake had arrived during the night and were less inclined to leave at dawn. Thus, numbers on the lake amounted to between 30,000 and 35,000. More than 5,000 cranes flew over the Moselle (57). The departments of the Oise (60), the Sarthe (72), the Cantal (15) and the Pas-de-Calais (62) were also concerned. During the same day, migration also continued in Germany: more than 35,000 cranes were recorded flying towards the north-east. Between March 6^th and 15^th, flights were observed in 42 departments situated within the main “diagonal” migratory route. Other, more out-of-way departments were also concerned : the Calvados (14), the Orne (61), the Charente-Maritime (17), the Loir-et-Cher (41), the Loiret (45), the Haute-Saone (70), the Saone-et-Loire (71), the Rhone (69), the Aveyron (12), the Tarn (81), the Haute-Garonne (31), the Aude (11), the Hainault (34) and the Gard (30). Map 4: Total number of Common Cranes counted between February 23^rd and March 15^th 2006
Minor movements with occasional peaks (16.03.06 – 26.03.06)	This was a noticeably quieter period than the previous one, since most of the birds had already left. During this period, 34 departments recorded small flights. However, numbers stepped up on March 19^thand 20^th. The first crane arrived in Sweden on the frozen Hornborga lake on March 21^st in snowy weather conditions (-10°). On March 23^rd, 5,000 birds were still on the Der lake (51/52), a relatively high number for the season.
Final migratory movements (27.03.06-26.04.06)	On March 28^th there were still 2,000 cranes remaining on the lake. The following day, migration came to a close in the south, confirmed by the numbers of birds recorded at Arjuzanx (40) 5 and at Puydarrieux (65) with only 4 cranes. Meanwhile, numbers increased in countries to the north. For example, on the Hornborga lake in Sweden, the bird population increased from 1,100 on April 1^st to 10,100 on April 11^th. There were still 54 cranes on the Der lake on April 17^th. The last flight comprised 3 birds from the Indre (37) on April 21^st. The last juveniles were observed on the ponds near the Der lake (51/52) on April 26^th.
2006 prenuptial migration overview	In all, 80,000 Common Cranes were involved in this prenuptial migration during the Spring of 2006. This figure does not include the 50,000 birds in Spain which were not recorded migrating in France. An overall estimation for Spring 2006 amounts to 130,000 birds. As usual, the figure is lower than that for the Autumn, due to a decrease in the amount of data received.
Estimated bird population: 2005-2006 overview	Thanks to data provided by a large number of spotters and to the driving force displayed by the French Common Crane Network, we were able to assess the Common Crane population in western Europe. During the 2005 autumn migration, 218,000 birds were recorded in France, to which must be added the 10,000 cranes wintering in Germany. As we have already seen, bird counts for prenuptial migration were lower, making it impossible to obtain an accurate estimate of the Common Crane population as a whole. However, a total of 228,000 birds throughout western Europe, would be a fairly well-founded assessment, together with an ongoing increase in population.
Common Crane populations in Western Europe between 1977 and 2005
Migration 2005-2006 in Champagne-Ardenne	The 2005-2006 migration in Champagne-Ardenne was a routine event, although a number of former, even historical records, were beaten on the Der lake. On Aug. 26^th, 11 cranes were seen on the lake and a month later, numbers had reached 42. The first migratory flights were recorded in the Marne during the night of Oct. 5^th and in less than 24 hours, about 6,000 cranes had already gathered in the vicinity of the lake: a large number for the season. At the same time, 36 cranes were recorded on the Temple lake in the Aube, while on Oct. 7^th the first flight in the Ardennes was heard in dense fog. The following day, a large number of birds flew over St Dizier in the Haute-Marne. On Oct. 9^th, numbers on the Der lake had in the increased (7,800: exceptionally high for the season) and on the lakes in the Aube (184 birds). On Oct. 15^thlarge flights left the region between 17.00 and 17.30 hrs. On the following day, a great many cranes were seen flying over Dienville and Mesnil-Saint-Père in the Aube (10,000 individuals). These birds had left the Der lake or were coming directly from Germany without having stopped in Champagne and were continuing their journey to the south-west. Between Oct. 18^thand 23^rd, the highest number of cranes for the season arrived on the Der lake (between 50,000 and 51,200 individuals). As was to be expected, large numbers of birds arrived on the lakes in the Aube region: more than 3,000 on the Temple lake on Oct. 19^th. Intense activity was recorded on the Der lake on Oct. 30^th and on Nov. 6th. Large numbers of birds left late in the morning and by the evening, substantial flocks from Germany had replaced them. During the night of Nov. 16^th and 17^th, cranes were heard in the southernmost part of the region around Langres in the Haute Marne. On Nov. 21^st a number of birds flew over the region without stopping. The bird population on the Der lake started to decrease rapidly: 10,000 on Nov. 22^nd and only 6,000 on Nov. 27^th, the lowest recorded for 10 years. At the beginning of December, several flights were seen over the region, as for example, in the Ardennes on Dec. 2^nd. The last flights were recorded on Dec. 10^th when several hundred cranes flew over the region, some of which landed. On Dec. 20^th, birds were recorded on the Temple lake in the Aube. Several flights were seen during the Christmas weekend, increasing numbers on the lake to 850 birds. More than 12,000 arrived on the Der lake on Jan. 15^th 2006 where, subsequently, 2 records were beaten. The first, on Jan. 29^th with more than 18,000 cranes and the second, on Feb. 2^nd, with 15,650 birds. Commencing on Feb. 1^st, areas providing supplementary food supplies were made available at the Ferme aux Grues (the Common Crane Farm) near the Der lake, in order to reduce damage caused by feeding on farmlands. This proved to be a great success, since 870 cranes were already feeding in these areas on Feb. 2^nd. This figure had increased to 4,000 on Feb. 24^th. Large flights were recorded in Champagne-Ardenne on Jan. 25^th and March 3^rd. On March 5^th, between 30,000 and 35,000 cranes were counted on the Der lake, while more than 18,000 left on migration at dawn the following day. The birds tended to linger on the lake: there were still 5,000 on March 23^rd, a record number for this period. However, on April 17^th, there remained only 54 birds and on April 26^th, 15 juveniles were still present on the Outines and Arrigny lakes.
Wintering Common Crane populations on the Der-Chantecoq lake (51/52) during the 2005-2006 migratory season: highest figures recorded per 10-day period (LPO and ONCFS counts)
The French Common Crane Network	Administered by the Champagne-Ardenne branch of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), the French Common Crane Network incorporates the various organizations and associations involved in some way with the Common Crane. Their activities are diverse: - to forecast migratory flights - to inform the public and media - to carry out bird counts - to locate ringed birds - to plot migratory routes - to take part in European working groups dealing with the Common Crane (ECWG) Those actively involved in the network are as follow: ALEPE, ANN, AOMSL, Association des Amis de la Réserve d’Arjuzanx, Berry Nature Environnement, CEEP, Charente Nature, CO Gard, COL, CSL, Eure-et-Loir Nature, GEOB, GEOR, GODS, GONm, GOR, Indre Nature, Les Naturalistes Orléanais, Limousin Nature Environnement, Loir-et-Cher Nature, LPO Aisne, LPO Alsace, LPO Anjou, LPO Aquitaine, LPO Aude, LPO Auvergne, LPO Champagne-Ardenne, LPO Charente-Maritime, LPO Cher, LPO France, LPO Franche-Comté, LPO Haute-Savoie, LPO Loire, LPO Loire-Atlantique, LPO PACA, LPO Sarthe, LPO Tarn, LPO Touraine, LPO Vendée, LPO Vienne, LPO Yonne, Mayenne Nature Environnement, Nature Midi-Pyrénées, OCL, Oiseaux-Nature, ONCFS délégation régionale nord-est, ONCFS / RNCFS du Lac du Der-Chantecoq, Parc ornithologique du Teich, Picardie Nature, PNR des Landes de Gascogne, ReNArd, Réserve de Puydarrieux, Réserve d’Arjuzanx, Réserve Naturelle de la Forêt d’Orient, Réserve Naturelle de l’Etang de Cousseau, la Route des Grues, SEPOL, SOBA Nature Nièvre.
	Monitoring throughout the whole country enabled the network to pinpoint the main migratory routes as illustrated on the map below. During the 2005/2006 season, 70 departments provided data on at least one occasion, out of which 30 recorded the presence of Common Cranes for a period of more than 10 days.
Map 5: Number of days’observation of Common Cranes per department during the 2005-2006 migratory season (1-9 days / more than 10 days)
	Design : Aurélien DESCHATRES, Emmanuel LE ROY Photos : Jean-Pierre FORMET Proof-reading and additional informations: Sébastien MERLE, Alain SALVI Translator : Lyn GEOFFROY-SOUTHWELL LPO Champagne-Ardenne Der Nature Ferme des Grands Parts D 13 51290 OUTINES Tel : 00333.26.72.54.47 Fax : 00333.26.72.54.30 The compilation of this synthesis was made possible thanks to the financial assistance provided by the Champagne-Ardenne region and the Regional Department for the Environment (DIREN) Champagne-Ardenne.

2005 postnuptial migration Wintering 2005-2006 2006 prenuptial migration