More than 30 red-headed cranes, scientifically known as Grus antigone,
has returned to Binh An commune, Kien Luong district of the southern
Kien Giang province since the middle of this February.
These cranes inhabit and feed at the Hon Chong and Ba Nui small
villages. They often leave for food early in the morning and come back
at dusk to sleep near the Holcim cement factory.
This time, the cranes do not form flocks but gather into small groups of
three to four to go seeking for food in various places.
Binh An commune used to see the return of more than 360 red-headed
cranes ten years ago. However, the sighting of the bird has become rarer
in the past two years because of the decreasing living environment for
cranes. The grass fields which were their main feeding grounds are now
used for raising shrimp or exploiting stone or clay.
At the same time, red-headed cranes are no longer seen at grass fields
in Phu My commune, Giang Thanh district bordering Cambodia because
of the fields’ drought.
The red-headed crane is a
large non-migratory crane found in farmlands or wetlands of Southeast
Asia, Australia and Indian Subcontinent. It is distinguished from other
cranes by the overall grey colour and the contrasting red head and upper
neck.
This rare species is classified as a
Vulnerable Group on the Red List of International Union for Conservation
of Nature and Natural Resources (IUNC).-VNA