Flock of red-crowned cranes grazing in a field of corn stubble, near Tsurui Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary, Hokkaido, Japan
After near extinction the endangered red crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is making a comeback; the Japanese population is now ~ 1000 individuals. It is one of the largest, rarest of the cranes. The comeback is in part due to the winter feeding program where local farmers provide them with corn, cereal grains and fish. I was fortunate to be able to see them when a rare heavy early snowfall in Hokkaido brought the cranes in from their summer habitat in the marshlands (where they are difficult to see) to the fields near Tsurui Village in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. During the day a small population of cranes spends their days at the Tsurui Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary and in the filed of the local farmers feeding, grooming and dancing. Towards sunset they fly to the Setsuri River where they spend the night and at sunrise they fly back to the fields. The red crowned cranes mate for life and at the start of the winter the bonded pairs perform elaborate and intricate courtship rituals that involve jumping, bowing and vocalizing. Cranes in corn stubble.
Size: 4000px × 2666px
Location: near Tsurui Village, Hokkaido, Japan
Photo credit: © Terry Allen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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