Red Crowned Crane Japan BW II
by Joan Carroll
Title
Red Crowned Crane Japan BW II
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Photography And Digital Art
Description
After 1½ days of photographing red-crowned at crane viewing centers on Hokkaido island in Japan, I ended up with many hundred of photos to review. There were the good, the bad, and the ugly, the bird butts and the photo bombs. Amidst all the photos was this one, reminding me of a gymnast on the balance beam. The Red-crowned, or Japanese, Crane is a symbol of luck, fidelity, and longevity. Ironically, the species was nearly wiped out a century ago because of hunting and loss of habitat. Fewer than 20 were thought to survive in the marshes of eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Residents awoke to the danger of losing the cranes and governments provided much-needed legal protection. Provision of food in the winter was begun to help the young birds survive. Protected, supported, and with a secure winter food supply the population began a dramatic recovery that has made it the great success story of 20th century conservation in Japan. Today there are at least 1000 of these cranes in the resident Hokkaido population and we were lucky to spend a day watching them feeding, putting on displays, and flying in and out of the feeding sites. Adult red-crowned cranes are named for a patch of red bare skin on the crown, which becomes brighter during mating season. It is among the largest of cranes, measuring up to 5’ tall and 23 lbs with a wingspan of 8 feet. The average adult lifespan is around 30 to 40 years in the wild.
FEATURED PHOTO, ART - It Is Good For You group, 2/28/21
FEATURED PHOTO, Hodge Podge group, 1/25/21
FEATURED PHOTO, Images That Excite You group, 1/25/21
FEATURED PHOTO, Art for the Love of Art group, 1/24/21
FEATURED PHOTO, Fine Art America Professionals group, 1/22/21
FEATURED PHOTO, Mind Blowing Photography group, 1/22/21
FEATURED PHOTO, An Image Inspiring Meditation group, 1/22/21
kushiro, winter, wild, bird, group, animal, migratory, nature, Hokkaido
Uploaded
January 22nd, 2021
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