Wild Grey Crowned Crane

During my visit to Ndutu we had a very close encounter with a pair of Grey crowned cranes that had been foraging in the marsh. These large wading birds can be seen in captivity in zoos throughout the US. To see them wild and free is always very exciting. The Crowned Crane species has been declining primarily due to habitat loss. Between the years of 2008 and 2012 it was upgraded on the IUCN red list from Least Concern to Vulnerable and finally Endangered. The loss and degradation of the wetland they require has greatly impacted the survival of these beautiful cranes. Additionally they have been affected by pesticides and trapping. Februaru 2017