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Common Cranes in
France |
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2008 PRENUPTIAL MIGRATION |
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Common Cranes in
France |
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2008 PRENUPTIAL MIGRATION |
| The first migratory flights were observed in the Yonne on January 11th 2008 with 30 cranes flying towards the north-east. On the following day, a similar number was seen coming from the Dordogne. However, the follow-up of a crane ringed in Finland revealed that there were still flights in the opposite direction. This bird, seen in the Aube (10) on January 12th, was later found in the Allier on the 20th. This “to-and-fro” movement has frequently been observed. | |||
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FIRST SMALL WAVE |
The first cranes were seen in Germany on January 26th. On the
same day, birds were seen in France, in the Haute Vienne, Charente and the
Gironde. The following day, minor movements were observed in the Dordogne,
Creuse, Vienne, Indre and the Cher and on the 28th and 29th, in
the Essonne and the Landes (40). |
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INCREASING MOVEMENTS
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Starting on February 8th, numbers of birds increased as was the number of departments involved. During this period, 34 departments reported flights. In some cases, few flights were seen (Creuse, Allier), the main migratory route being a little more to the north-west, while other departments witnessed greater activity, such as the Deux-Sèvres or the Vienne. The Nord and the Rhône, also situated off the main route, reported flights. On February 10th, 1,000 cranes flew over the Charente. The increased flight movements were also perceptible at the Crane Farm (51) where 2,500 birds arrived on the feeding-grounds. More than 2,000 flew over the Vienne on the 20th. The following day, 6,000 cranes crossed over the Pyrénées and yet another 2,000 flew over the Vienne. Between February 20th and 21st, 5,000 cranes left Spain and the sites in Aquitaine were emptying fast. From then on, thousands of cranes filled the skies over the departments situated on the main migratory route. Accurate numbers are extremely difficult to assess due to the high concentration of birds: 2,500 birds migrated between 1700 and 1800hrs in the Gironde, about 5,000 were seen in just over one-and-a-half hours in the Charente and between 5,000 and 6,000 in the space of an hour in the Indre. In the Meuse, 1,700 birds were spread over the 2 sites. This movement reached its peak on the 24th. One observer in the Charente reported seeing 15,000 birds between 1330 and 1730hrs. At least 8,000 were seen over the Meuse and the Meurthe-et-Moselle. Meanwhile, the movement was continuing in Germany: 21,000 cranes were seen in the afternoon but many more flew over during the night, making it impossible to assess numbers. This first massive “Spring” movement involved at least 60,000 cranes.
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FINAL SUBSTANTIAL SPRING MOVEMENTS
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Although these movements continued uninterrupted, they nevertheless started to intensify on February 27th. The following days were noteworthy for the massive departures from Spain. On the 27th, large numbers of nocturnal flights were reported in the Lot-et Garonne. The following day, flights over the Pyrénées were markedly concentrated. In the Haute-Vienne, 30,000 cranes were observed between 1300 and 1800hrs. On the 29th, 40,000 birds left the Sotonera region in Spain between 1000and 1200hrs! This heralded an extensive crossing to France, particularly since, on the following day, 55,000 cranes left the Gallocanta site, also in Spain, plus a further 30,000 from Sonotera! For the second consecutive day, at least 30,000 birds flew over the Haute-Vienne and 20,000 over the Lot-et-Garonne in the space of 1 hour! On the 29th, violent gusts of south-westerly winds enabled the birds to progress rapidly towards the north-east. Some cranes were seen in the Isère and the Vaucluse. On March 2nd, migratory flights were even more intensive: more than 11,000 birds were observed in the Dordogne and almost as many in the Lot-et-Garonne. On the 3rd, it was reported that the birds had veered to the east of the main migratory route. Consequently, small flocks of birds were observed over the Jura, Haute-Saône, the Vosges and the Moselle. Elsewhere, although many departments were concerned, the number of birds recorded had considerably decreased compared to the previous days. This was, in fact, the final day of the main movement, involving 120,000 cranes! |
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Carte 4 : Nombre cumulé de Grues cendrées lors des
mouvements
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SMALLER MOVEMENTS
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Although a group of 81 cranes had landed in the Saône-et-Loire, there was only a scattering of groups seen throughout the rest of France, a marked difference to the previous days. Small groups landed here and there in the Ardennes, Loiret, Cher, Drôme, Eure, Landes and the Haute-Saône. There were 600 birds on the Der lake (51/52). In Gallocanta, there remained 1,700 on the 10th. Two groups flew over the Ain on the same day. On the 11th, the Arjuzanx site was empty. A group of 45 birds flew over the Bouches-du Rhône and 75 landed in the Lozère. On the 13th, more than 2,000 were seen in the Dordogne, heading towards the north-east and on the 14th, 4 departments were concerned, where flights are infrequent: the Ain, Doubs, Oise and the Somme. |
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FINAL
MOVEMENTS AT THE END OF MIGRATION
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This period of 23 days was remarkable for the extremely small amount of migratory movements throughout the country. The most significant were observed in the following departments: the Ain, Charente, Gers, Lozère, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Vosges, Meurthe-et Moselle, Marne, Cantal and the Corrèze. |
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LATECOMERS
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A usual, a certain number of cranes made very late departures. In most cases, these were immature birds. Occasionally, some were injured or too exhausted to continue their journey. For example, on April 8th, a crane was seen in the Vendée. On the 9th, another was observed in the Var. Small groups of migratory birds were also reported: 4 in the Vienne on the 12th and 3 in the Pas-de-Calais on the 15th. Three immature birds had been seen in the Corrèze over a three-week period and 7 others to the north of the Corrèze on April 21st. The final sighting concerned 2 wounded cranes in the Vienne, one remaining visible until May 23rd. | ||
| 2008 PRENUPTIAL MIGRATION OVERVIEW |
During
February and March, 185 000 cranes were reported flying over the country on
active migration. For once, this figure is higher than in autumn, sign that
the migration has been better monitored in the spring. |
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2007 – 2008 RESULTS : POPULATION ESTIMATES |
In order to estimate western european crane population, we need to consider the number of birds contacted in France during prenuptial migration (185 000) as well as those having wintered in Germany (12 000), in the north-east of France (21 968) and in the Center (3 600). In this way, the west European population is assessed to be around 223 000 cranes. As a reminder, the population was estimated to 218 000 individuals for the season 2006/2007. It is important to emphasise that this figure is only an estimation and has to be taken as a minimum. Owing to the increasing of the population, it is harder and harder to be exhaustive in the monitoring of the cranes migration. |
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NESTING |
In Lorraine, the known nesting sites are occupied again. A pair that was until now only likely has been confirmed with two juveniles seen non-flying in the beginning of July and again but flying the 20th July. Just under ten breeding pairs seems to be a quite fair estimation for the region. |
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MIGRATION IN CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNE |
As far as the Aube lakes are concerned, the first crane arrived on September 8th and the season’s maximum was reached on October 14th with 3,780 birds. One remained until April 7th. The Horre pond (10/52) was host large numbers of birds: usually about 3,000 in the Autumn, reaching a maximum of 6,500 on January 13th. On March 6th, large numbers of cranes were reported in the Ardennes (the Aisne and Bar valleys, Porcien, etc.). Among those birds leaving later, there were still 9 in the Ardennes on April 1st, 46 in the Haute-Marne on April 8th and 8 in the Marne on April 20th.
November 28th 2007 will remain an ill-fated day for the cranes in Champagne: a thick fog enveloped the Der lake and caused a disaster! The birds were totally disorientated and collided with power lines and trees. Some landed on the roads and were hit by cars! More than 40 dead birds were found on the following day. |
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Total number of cranes recorded on the Der lake (51/52) during the 2007/2008 season (LPO and ONCFS counts)
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Clara: the Crane's Journey |
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The French Crane Network
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Administered by the
Champagne-Ardenne branch of the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux,
the French Crane Network comprises all the French organizations and
associations interested in this bird. The aims of the network are
multiple: |
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Map
5: Number of days’observation of Common Cranes
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Design: Aurélien
DESCHATRES, Emmanuel LE ROY
The compilation of this synthesis was made possible thanks to the financial
assistance provided by the Champagne-Ardenne region, the Regional Department for
the Environment (DREAL) Champagne-Ardenne and the Grands Lacs de Seine
Interdepartmental Institution (IIBRBS) |
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2007 postnuptial migration Wintering 2007-2008 2008 prenuptial migration |
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