The majesty of the Sarus crane

APAIR of Sarus cranes was spotted by us at the Keshopur Chhamb Community Reserve in Gurdaspur district of Punjab last week. It was an unusually sunny day with good visibility. We reached the reserve in the afternoon. We took a kutcha footpath passing through agricultural fields and reached near the wetland.

One of us spotted large-sized birds through his binoculars. As these birds appeared bigger than those seen in this area, he immediately asked his partner to have a look. The latter saw a pair of birds with a reddish-orange head and neck and grey feathers. We moved closer to the birds and observed them for an hour. During this period, the cranes were seen foraging, taking long leaps and resting. In the end, one of the birds, which was presumed to be a male, started making a trumpeting sound by pointing its beak upward; the female followed suit. The scene was breathtaking. It was as if the pair was performing a duet. This lasted for about 30 seconds. The birds stayed there for a while and then flew to the other end of the wetland for foraging. Their flight was majestic and powerful. We followed them. They continued to feed on fish, invertebrates and aquatic plants.

The scientific name of this bird is Grus Antigone. It is listed under the vulnerable category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. It is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is found in the northern and central parts of India. In Punjab, it has been reported in the catchment area of the Beas river.

These birds inhabit wetlands, hiding from the mainland but staying fairly close to agricultural land. Wetlands need agricultural land around them for their survival. The Keshopur reserve offers a similar habitat to this pair of cranes. The Beas and Ravi catchment area have the potential to support this gorgeous large-sized bird. By promoting sustainable farming in the region, a Sarus sanctuary can be developed. This has immense eco-tourism potential and will benefit both humans and wildlife.

Since 2022, the Sarus crane has been seen in the region despite its partial migratory nature. The availability of food and a suitable habitat may be the reasons for its long stay. Last year, a Sarus pair was spotted along with two young ones; however, this year, only a pair was seen. Their sighting has reconfirmed their long-term presence in the region. The community reserve and the state government deserve appreciation for preserving this refuge of wild avian fauna.