Sarus Crane leaving Nepal signals winter’s arrival

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Dhangadhi, Oct. 15: The world’s tallest flying bird Sarus Crane (Grus Antigone) started migrating to India after flying for a month in the Nepali sky. 

The Sarus Cranes flying towards India to escape winter were spotted in the Kailali sky in the past few days, informed Dinesh Kushmi. 

The birds breed in Mongolia, Russia and northern China and will fly to India from August after the newborn come to the stage of flying. These birds spend the whole winter in India after flying through two routes of Nepal, informed Hiru Lal Dangaura, a bird specialist. 

According to Dangaura, the birds entering Nepal from Tibet via the route of western Himalayas of Summer-Dhaulagiri in Mustang flies to India through Bheri River corridor. The birds will also fly through Dang and Banke area of the Terai region. 

Similarly, the birds will also make their way through second route, Dolpa-Kailali. The birds entering Nepal through Dolpa will migrate to India via Karnali corridor from Hasuliya to east of Kailali. 

The overseas Sarus Cranes fly around 4,896 kilometers while migrating to India. Their travel time includes 13 to 40 days, informed Dangaura. 

A flock of the Sarus Cranes consists of 1,500 to 2,500 individual birds. Initiated by a leader bird, they fly for days and nights in a ‘V’ shape. The leader birds take turns once they get tired. 

Earlier, the Sarus Cranes flying from Upper Mustang and staying in Kagbeni during migration were recorded. According to Dangaura, the birds had stayed in buckwheat farm of Tukucho area in Mustang for food. In 2006, the birds staying in Mantriphant of Bhajani Municipality, Kailali were recorded. Similarly, the birds staying in Khata corridor of Bardiya were recorded on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, two Sarus Cranes were spotted in Tarapur area of Kanchanpur last year. Dangaura said that the birds, unable to keep up with the migrating flocks, were separated and left behind in Kanchanpur.

The birds spend about six months in Rajasthan and Gujarat of India. "From the end of March, the birds return to Mongolia, Russia and China," he said.

It is said that 15,000-30,000 Sarus Cranes spend winter in Khichan village of Rajasthan, India. 

A separate place called ‘Chunga Ghar’ has been made in the village for the birds for stay and food, informed Dangaura. “Every day, five to six quintals of food are given to the birds. Rajansthan people have been donating food for the birds,” he added.

At the end of the winter, the birds fly to Russia, Mongolia and other countries via Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and others. They fly around 6,034 kilometers for 65-66 days, said Dangaura. 

There are nine routes of the birds in the world. The Sarus Cranes fly more than 10,000 kilo meters in a year taking Asia route. 

It is said that the monsoon will end and winter will begin once the birds are seen in the sky. Dangaura said that the loss of natural habitat had become a big challenge for the migrating birds. "There is no longer enough space for these birds to live," he said, "Wetlands are also disappearing."