A glance to the Black-necked cranes in Bhutan

The main wintering grounds of the black-necked cranes in Bhutan are situated in the Phobjikha valley. The daily maximum temperature is 8 degrees today. In the upcoming night the temperature drops to -1 degree, so that the sleeping waters freeze in parts (see photo). The valley at an altitude of about 3000 m is not very cozy at this time of the year. But due to the strong sun in southerly located Bhutan the ground thaws during the day and the cranes find sufficient food.

All cranes to which we still have a connection via their GPRS transmitter (4 of 6) are currently in Phobjikha valley (see map) and will fly back into their breeding homeland Tibet in mid-March. The data of these transmitters are currently analyzed by Crane Conservation Germany in a cooperation project with NABU International and the Bhutanese ´Royal Society for the Protection of Nature‘ (RSPN).