The
common crane (Grus grus) is
a majestic long legged bird with a thin neck. It can
reach 1.2 metres in height and has an open wingspan
of over 2 metres. Its beak is long and it uses it to
dig in the soil in search of seeds, acorns and insects.
They are migratory birds, which means that their presence
in large numbers in the Gallocanta lagoon depends on
the time of year.
Generally speaking, the mass arrival of birds takes
place in autumn from mid October to early
November, when cranes arrive from the countries
of northern Europe en route to warmer lands.
The same event, but this time in the opposite direction,
takes place from mid February to mid March,
when the cranes flock to the Lagoon (in the early
afternoon) before continuing their journey north (they
depart from mid morning until midday).
During the month of December and right up to mid February
(winter season), the crane population
remains constant, given that the lagoon harbours the
largest crane population on the Iberian Peninsula during
the winter.
This species shows quite routine behaviour patterns.
The cranes rest in the roosts, located
in the lowest waters of the lagoon, and then fly off
in the early morning in search of food throughout the
entire cultivated basin surrounding the lagoon.
Its diet is based on seeds of all kinds
(barley, wheat, sunflower, corn...) -depending on the
time of year- and, above all on stubble,
which is more readily available. When they are feeding
there are always some cranes with their necks stretched
out and their heads up high scanning the horizon in
search of intruders, because they have the custom of
feeding and keeping a look out at the same time.
The drinking grounds (small dams, navajos
and points where sweet water enters into the lagoon)
are used periodically by the cranes. Resting
and grooming are activities which take
up the middle hours of the day and they occupy the fields
near the lagoon for this purpose. In the afternoon the
cranes fly off again to their feeding grounds
and then return to the roosts in the
lagoon with the last rays of sunlight, creating a spectacle
of singular beauty.