Duvenstedter Brook 2005

In the beginning of the season, quite bad observations had to be made: in late winter and still until end of February / early March (with cranes already arriving), intensive work was made and the draining of the Brook (which should be a protected wetland!) was intensified (see pictures in the German news part: one, two). What was to be observed as well: only a few crane pairs werepresent. Finally, only 7 pairs (last year: 16!) were present, only 6 (last year: 9) established a territory, only one par (#6,28) hatched 2 chicks, one of which fledged.

This is after so many years of increase in crane pair numbers the worst year.

The alternation of generation is almost complete:

• Now, also the up to last year oldest and most stable pair (# 4) is not any more complete, M4 has taken a new wife F32.
• Pair # 5, up to then the second oldest and second most stable pair, was missing, at least I could not observe it nor record.

No0w we only have a few individuals left which we know from the first year with sonography (1998): M1 (now no territory, left after a few weeks with his wife F16), F2, and M4.

For further information about behaviour, sonography, voiceprinting of cranes in the world: http://home.nikocity.de/craneworld/