THE CRANE AS A SYMBOL OF 2010

armradio.am
15.01.2010 17:00

The Crane is considered `Bird of 2010` in Armenia. That is the result
of public opinion poll, undertaken by `the Armenian Society for the
Protection of Birds` NGO. With the assistance of LOLO youth magazine,
the poll was held within Yerevan, as well as in the localities that
has been situated within Important Bird Areas. IBA custodians, who
oversee the condition of above-mentioned areas, undertook the poll
in the regions.

The number of questioned people was 1025 total. 481 of them, or 47%,
spoke for the benefit of Crane. Golden Eagle (297 votes, 29%), and
Kestrel (184 votes, 18%), became properly second and third.

In Armenia, Crane is a very rare bird. It nestles only in Southern
and South-Western provinces. The condition of population is really
critical: according the current data, only from 2 to 6 cranes’
couples have remained within the surroundings of Arpi Lake.

"There can be no doubt", emphasizes Luba Balyan, ASPB National IBA
Coordinator, "that cranes merit serious attention and care. If proper
measures are not undertaken, Armenian fauna can completely lose this
unique species of birds in nearest future".

Election of Crane as a `bird of the year` becomes particularly topical,
because the Gray Crane inhabiting in Armenia recently was picked out
as a separate subspecies. By a number of characteristics, this form
strongly differs from Western and Eastern Gray Cranes: it different
colour of beak, colour spots on his way are situated in a different
way; adult specimen differ by dazzling white spots behind eyes,
and they have no red "crown" on their heads, as well.

According to available data, the subspecies nestles only within the
Armenian Plateau, and in adjacent provinces of Georgia and Turkey.