| 2009-09-28 |
Published: Published by Regions.ru Information Agency |
Six young great white cranes (Grus leucogeranus) or sterkhs have been delivered to Astrakhan reserve. It was here, the Volga River estuary, where a new stage of the "Flight of Hope", a unique international ecological project began. ITERA Oil and Gas Company acted as its general sponsor.
"The Project intended to replace the petering out West Siberian white cranes, - explains Alexander Sorokin, the national coordinator for sterkhs conservation programs, - envisions a few possibilities to restore the population of sterkhs. The easiest way is to add eggs into nests of gray cranes. The variety of methods scientists may use includes a new experimental procedure. It is being tested now. Its essence is that nestlers grown in the Oka State Biosphere Reserve near Ryazan, are brought to the Yamal Peninsular and released in the Kunovatsky swamps, a white cranes’ nesting seat.
Scientists-ornithologists believe that young birds should quickly adjust to the natural environment there. It is expected that then they would join grown-up congeners and fly away together with them to warm lands for wintering. A young couple of crains, named Yamal and Itera, was released in Kunovatsky swamps this past summer to go through a pre-flight training.
Scientists consider using a motor-hang-glider as an extremely interesting and efficient method. A mechanical bird plays a role of a flock leader that guides young sterkhs along a migration route to the wintering areas. This experiment was a success in 2007: birds followed a hang-glider to cover over 1.5 thousand kilometers.
Ornithologists plan another experiment for the current year. They decided to release sterkhs (grown up in a nursery in the Oka reserve) in the Volga River estuary. This area is one among the most important stop-over points for white cranes along their flight route during the autumnal migration.
"Some sterkhs fly from the taiga boggy areas in West Siberia via Kazakhstan to the northern shore of the Caspian Sea, - A.Sorokin explains, - which, we should admit, is quite a difficult route, since much of the distance is arid regions not good for rest. It is only after sterkhs cover the distance over three thousand kilometers that they can stop for a lengthy rest in shallow-water bays of the Volga estuary".
This hunting "Mecca", rich with fodder, has protected aits of peace. The largest one is the Astrakhan reserve where sterkhs gather energies for the rest of their way to the wintering sites in Iran. The experience testifies to the fact that the choice of the Astrakhan reserve as a place where young sterkhs are being introduced to nature may give good scientific result.
"The release of young sterkhs from the nursery at the wild cranes’ migration stopover gives them a realistic chance to join their compatriots and fly with them to wintering areas, - A.Sorokin points out. – It is very important that sterkhs that are very scrupulous and strict in respect to carpetbaggers and even species of their kind in nesting seats change their habits in the course of migration and easily unite into flocks".
Six sterkhs were delivered to the Volga estuary from the Oka reserve on a specially adjusted car purchased within the framework of the "Flight of Hope" Project financed by ITERA. Four of the six sterkhs have been born last May in the reserve. The other two sterkhs were born one year earlier. All nestlers were brought up by their parents and they had no direct contact with people. This should simplify their association with wild birds and their adaptation to natural environment.
The new arrivals were placed in temporary aviary constructed in advance in shallow waters so favored by wild cranes. There the birds spent a couple of days, had rest after the trip and cleaned up. Then, satellite transmitters were fixed on two of the birds to control all their moves for a year.
Now, the six birds are sharpening their airborne qualities and waiting for their wild fellows to approach. This may happen any day, now. They usually arrive late in September or in early October. They usually spend several weeks in the Volga estuary and fly away southwards after it becomes cold here. So, the released nestlers have enough time to improve in strength and get prepared for further flight to their wintering seats.
"Bird are watched by Oka and Astrakhan reserves personnel who are ready to help them at any time, - says Alexander Sorokin. – The international Project "Flight of Hope" finds new dimensions".
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