Maybe someday, these sculptures will be all that one can see of the Blue Cranes.
The blue crane is South Africa's national bird, and they are listed as endangered.
The blue crane (Grus paradisea), also known as the Stanley crane and the paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
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I have done a few live blue crane posts over the years, flying, mating and with their babies. They are wild birds and
it is a pleasure to catch them in action. The problem is that blue cranes are an endangered species as they have to struggle with the destruction of mankind, and they also have many predators.
Come and have a look at the beautiful sculptures.
And here below is a photo in the opposite direction. A pity that the mountains were cloudy, as on a clear day it forms a lovely backdrop.
I included these two reflection photos.
In the last two decades, the blue crane has largely disappeared from the Eastern Cape, Lesotho, and Eswatini. The population in the northern Free State, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Province has declined by up to 90%. The majority of the remaining population is in eastern and southern South Africa, with a small and separate population in the Etosha Pan of northern Namibia. Occasionally, isolated breeding pairs are found in five neighbouring countries.
The primary causes of the sudden decline of the blue crane are human population growth, the conversion of grasslands into commercial tree plantations, and poisoning: deliberate (to protect crops) or accidental (baits intended for other species, and as a side-effect of crop dusting).
The South African government has stepped up legal protection for the blue crane. Other conservation measures are focusing on research, habitat management, education, and recruiting the help of private landowners.
The blue crane is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
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I cannot make up my mind if this bird below is an Egret (Egretta garzetta) or a Heron (Ardea melanocephala)
Maybe you can tell me what you think it is?
It is always painful to see that some species of animal, or bird are facing extinction. The question is, what will we leave for the future generations to see? The way that we carry on now, not much will be left and the scars in nature of the unrehabilitated old mines, compete with the scars of all the new mines. Another danger is that acid mine water rises to the surface, and it flows into streams contaminating any wetlands in the areas. The birds have to drink that water. Then of course we also have the actions of mankind, called "progress", when they strip large areas in nature to build residential and shopping developments. Apart from that, poison and pesticides kill the birds as well. On and on it goes and like the poor, nature's residents also suffer.
Such is life.
All photos were taken at the Vergelegen Wine Estate and you can see more of the beautiful estate HERE
I hope that you have enjoyed the pictures.
And That's All Friends.
Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon PowerShot SX70HS Bridge camera.
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