Blue crane (Anthropoides paradiseus)

Wattled crane (Grus carunculatus)

Grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum)

Crane species in Namibia

Grey crowned crane

Distribution and abundance - overall

• Occurs from southern Uganda and Kenya southwards to the eastern Cape

• Balearica regulorum regulorum found only in southern Africa and southern Angola, population estimated at 2800 – 12000 birds

• Largely associated with wetlands but also forages in nearby dryland habitats

• Utilises the grass fringes of wetlands, feeding on frogs, reptiles, insects and also seed heads and grass tops

• Three discrete and fragmented populations, largest of about 2800 birds found in E and NE South Africa

• Overall decline of 20% in last three generations

• Begins egglaying in spring with a peak in December – January (South Africa); December – February (Zimbabwe)

• Threats include poisoning, wetland degradation and disturbance

Regional distribution – Grey crowned crane

Grey crowned crane

In Namibia:

• Utilises the grass fringes of wetlands, feeding on frogs, reptiles, insects and also seed heads and grass tops

• In Namibia only in grasslands N of Etosha, Zambezi and Okavango Rivers, rarely seen in Etosha:

- this population estimated at < 50 birds in late 80s- recorded mainly at Lake Oponono (6 records between 1994 and

1999)

• No breeding records in Namibia

No of birds recorded in Wetland counts: Grey crowned crane

Fischer’s Pan

Apr 94 2

Feb 96 1

Oshituntu

Jan 96 8

Apr 98 3

Jan 99 5

Jan 00 5

Lake Oponono

Aug 91* 3

Apr 93* 5

Jan 94 5

Apr 94 15

Jul 97 11

Apr 98 2

Mar 99 16

* Includes Oshituntu

Protected areasCommercial conservanciesCommunal conservancies

Grey crowned crane SABAP reporting rate1 - 3 %4 - 7 %8 - 13 %14 - 20 %21 - 33 %

Distribution of Grey crowned crane in relation to protected areas and conservancies

Museum specimens

1970

19701963

1970

1963

1987

Wattled crane

Crowned crane

Blue crane

For Blue crane and Wattled crane, museum specimens are within the current ranges of these species.

For Grey crowned crane, the 1970 specimen is further north than this species is now found, indicating a range reduction.

Distribution of Grey crowned crane in relation to human population

Protected areasCommercial conservanciesCommunal conservancies

Grey crowned crane SABAP reporting rate1 - 3 %4 - 7 %8 - 13 %14 - 20 %21 - 33 %

No of people / km20.01-0.50.51-1.01-510-2525-505-1050-100> 100

Protected areasCommercial conservanciesCommunal conservancies

Grey crowned crane SABAP reporting rate1 - 3 %4 - 7 %8 - 13 %14 - 20 %21 - 33 %

Stocking density (kg/hectare)0-2021-4041-6061-8081-100101-120> 120

Distribution of Grey crowned crane in relation to livestock

Grey crowned crane

Red Data status – Near Threatened in Namibia,

– population stable/decreasing

Threats• Generally, degradation of feeding and breeding habitat, poisoning, collisions with

powerlines. • In Namibia, human use of Lake Oponono by opportunistic hunters and trappers

with cattle

Actions

• Research on populations elsewhere in Namibia

• Assessment of breeding after good rains

• Direct protection

• Education of herdsmen on importance of Lake Oponono, and on the collection of snares and baits

This presentation was compiled

using information and data from:

The Atlas of Southern African Birds (Ed. Harrison et al, 1997)

Avifaunal Database of Namibia, held at the Directorate of Environmental Affairs, MET

Atlas of Namibia – A Portrait of the Land and its People (Mendelsohn et al, 2002)

An environmental profile and atlas of Caprivi (Mendelsohn et al, 1997)

Draft text from the Red Data Book on birds of Namibia (Simmons, in prep)