KWAZULU-Natal and the Eastern Cape have the bulk of South Africa’s population of the crown crane.
Found in marshes, vleis, moist grasslands and fields, these birds are gregarious unless breeding, forming groups from 30 to 150 birds.
They are tame when not molested and often perform dancing displays in pairs or groups.
They roost on the ground or in trees.
The crown crane’s voice is a highly characteristic, two-syllabled trumpeting ‘ma-hem’, with the second note being much louder than the first. It often calls in flight.
It feeds on frogs, reptiles, insects and fallen grain.
Breeding occurs between November and February, and the nest is a large, flattened mound of reeds. It sometimes uses the old nest of a secretary bird.
The crown crane lays two to three eggs, with an incubation of about 29 to 31 days. Fledgings for about four months, the young remain with their parents for 10 months.
The bird’s Zulu name is uNohemu.
