Common Crane

(Visit to LRK – continued from previous post)

The wild ass is without any doubt, a major attraction of LRK. But, the drive itself is quite long and tiring. The services of a trained guide are recommended if you are driving your own vehicle or a rented one with a driver who has no previous experience of driving on the mud-flats. This is because there are no clearly defined paths and often, due to your eagerness to catch a close-up of the wild herd, you may end up off the route and keep driving around the sanctuary trying to get back to the place where you started.

At the Forest Department’s interpretation center, you can hire the services of the locals, who are able to guide you around the mud-flats and ensure that you spend your time effectively, spotting the wild ass and other attractions.  On our way through the mud-flats, we passed a few water bodies with waders and water fowl. We spotted spoonbills, pied avocets, spotbills, stilts and a few river terns.

Wild Boar

We came across a herd of wild boar, with several young ones which quickly scooted away into the nearby scrub forest.

Common Crane

Nearby a family of Common Cranes, also known as Eurasian Cranes, foraged for food and we were able to approach them quite closely. These cranes are migratory birds and are commonly found all over Europe. In winter, they fly over long distances to reach the warmer climate of Western and Central India. The birds are large, with grey plumage, long, slender white and black necks, and red crown. Juveniles have brown plumage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These birds are decreasing in numbers mainly due to degradation of habitats in their migratory routes over Central Asia. 
More details about the cranes are available from INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION.

Quick facts

Name: Common Crane

Alternate name: Eurasian Crane

Status: Migratory, winter visitor

Photograph location: Little Rann of Kutch (LRK)

Best time to visit: November to February

Nearest railway: Ahmedabad

PS: As human population continues to increase, its effects on environment degradation are being felt across the world. 

We need to to our best in conserving the environment.

Here is a native American saying with infinite wisdom: 

"When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps you will then remember that this land does not belong to you, it is you who belong to this land."