Leica Sport Optics

Mystical Cranes The grand migration of the cranes is one of the
most impressive shows of nature. The largest staging areas in central
Europe are on the Baltic Sea coast between the Rügen and Bock Islands
and the Zingst peninsula. Twice each year the large birds stop here to
renew their energy for the rest of the journey.
The crane plays a large role in mythology.
In Egypt there are 4,000-year-old representations
of cranes, which were revered
as “sun birds”. Dancing cranes are the
theme of Japanese sculptures, and in
northern lands cranes were venerated
as harbingers of spring. Later on in Germany,
popular writings were dedicated
to the crane. Friedrich von Schiller created
a memorial for them in “The Cranes
of Ibykus”. And the poem “The Lovers”
by Bertolt Brecht conjures some of the
wistful mood with which the eyes of men
follow the migrating crane. Even today
cranes have not lost any of their fascination.
The fall migration of the cranes is
enjoyed by thousands of nature lovers
as a wondrous natural spectacle. The
Baltic Sea coast around Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern is the largest gathering
area for cranes in central Europe. In
November the birds break their camp
here on the Baltic Sea coast and gathering
places in Brandenburg and fly
to their winter quarters by way of the
Rheinland to France (Lac du Der) and
on again to Spain.
The largest crane resting areas in
central Europe are in the Vorpommersche
Boddenlandschaft National Park
between the Rügen and Bock Islands
and the Zingst peninsula. Twice each
year the large birds stop here to renew
their energy for the rest of the journey.
In the spring they stay a somewhat
shorter time than in the fall. The breeding
grounds beckon, and those who
come too late have to make do with
undesirable breeding areas. In contrast,
in the fall dallying is the order of the day.
At that time, up to 40,000 birds at a
time stay in the Baltic Sea inlets. They
stop overnight in the shallow waters in
large flocks, as they are protected here
from foxes and martens. The formations
of cranes can be seen – and heard – from
far away. The trumpeting calls in the fall
sky conjure a wild atmosphere, and if
St. Peter then rewards the waiting nature
lovers with a fiery sunset, in front which
the large flocks fly down in their wedge
formation, the mood is so thick that it
seems one must hold one’s breath. There
are problems, however. Cranes profit
from the increased planting of corn.
What was a thorn in the eye of nature
conservationists due to single-culture
cultivation methods has become a feast
for the cranes. They eat the kernels of
corn that remain on the harvested fields.
However, ever more effective harvest
techniques are now competing with the
great gray birds. Fewer and fewer kernels
are left over for the birds.
But to prepare for flight to their
winter quarters, they must eat to gain
reserves of fat, without which they
cannot make the long flight. In their
approximately 12-week-long rest, each
bird takes in about 300 grams of food.
Every day the members of the Crane
Information Center in Groß Mohrdorf
count the feathered guests to estimate
the nutritional needs of the migrating
birds. They have to be very careful,
though, because the shy birds quickly
take flight in the presence of humans.
Their fear of humans is laid down in their
genetics and will most likely ensure caution
for a number of generations yet to
come. They have, however, become used
to farm equipment and automobiles. For
that reason, it is not difficult to watch
cranes from the car, even though it turns
the stomachs of ecology fundamentalists.
But roads do not go to all the places
where cranes need to be counted. Good
binoculars and spotting scopes are thus
very important for crane conservationists.
They are also important because
they can help to spot color-marked
cranes. In order to better understand the
migratory paths of the cranes, young
cranes have for several years been
marked with conspicuous rings of color
on their legs. This makes it possible to
recognize individual cranes over a number
of years. Leica spotting scopes help
considerably with this effort. Through
observation the crane conservationists
have found that the birds do not stay
as long on the harvested open fields as
they once did. The danger exists that
they might now seek out newly sewn
farm fields due to lack of food. That farm-
ers, who must live from their harvests,
would be upset about this is predictable.
For this reason, the Crane Center advocates
a strategy of diversion feeding.
Feed corn is scattered on fields that are
specifically agreed upon with the farm-
ers. The cranes quickly notice the laid
table and are diverted from the newly
sown fields. The crane was not always
an attraction for tourists and journalists
in Germany. For decades conservationists
fought in East and West Germany
for the survival of the species. It is a
particular success story of the nature
conservation movement that there are
today so many cranes – even breeding
cranes – in Germany. Dr. Wolfgang
Mewes, manager of the joint group for
crane protection, estimates the number
of breeding cranes in Germany to be
about 4,000 pairs. And the resettlement
continues in areas where no breeding
cranes were known in living memory.
The first breeding cranes were sighted
in Holland, south England, France, and
even Italy. Crane conservationists estimate
the number of cranes in Europe
to be about 160,000. The lucky bird –
a bird in luck ?
The author, Thomas Griesohn-Pflieger,
is a birdwatcher and journalist.
Leica and the cranes
Leica supports the work of crane conservation
with the best that bird watchers
can have : Leica binoculars and Leica
spotting scopes. Outfitted with these,
not only rangers can observe better, but
crane tourists can also enjoy optical brilliance
when they look through Trinovid
binoculars and Televid spotting scopes.
In addition, Leica helps by issuing an
important leaflet for visitors with tips
for correct observation.
www.kraniche.de
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