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AIPUR: A tagged Siberian Demoiselle crane has soared further in the pecking order of long flights, taking a detour to wing over 3,676km to Rajasthan and setting a new distance record for migratory birds arriving in the state.
Nicknamed Sukpak, the crane swooped down to Khichan in Phalodi district. It was clicked by an Australian tourist, Carolyn Synnott, at Khichan’s renowned feeding station. Sukpak was identified by a distinctive yellow-blue ring on its leg. The previous longest recorded flight for a Demoiselle crane was about 2,800km, for a bird tagged in Mongolia. “This is a male crane, tagged by our team on July 20, 2024. He was the elder of a two-chick brood,” said Elena Mudrik, a Russian crane researcher.
Crane’s reverse migration path remarkable, say specialists
Dau Lal Bohra, member of a Crane Specialist Group at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a contributor to the 1000 Crane Project, attributed Sukpak’s record-breaking distance to the fact that it was ringed – tagged for identification – in far-flung Tyva, a republic in south-central Siberia of Russia.
“Tyva borders northwestern Mongolia and lies in the upper Yenisey river basin. Due to the region’s harsh conditions, this was the first time researchers successfully ringed birds there. Since the ringing was done at a further location, it increased the migration distance,” said Bohra.
What makes Sukpak’s journey more remarkable is its unexpected route through Pakistan. “Traditionally, Demoiselle cranes cross Himalayan valleys and enter India via Nepal. However, Sukpak’s route traversed Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan before it entered India through Jaisalmer. This is the reverse of the usual migration path, typically observed during their return journey. It is the most significant discovery in Demoiselle crane migration patterns,” Bohra said.
At present, nearly 20,000 Demoiselle cranes – Kurjan in local parlance – are roosting at Khichan for their winter sojourn. Recently designated as a conservation reserve, Khichan has become a safe haven for these majestic birds. “Khichan is India’s first reserve for Demoiselle cranes. This milestone not only enriches our understanding of bird migration but also highlights the need to conserve these species and their habitats,” an expert said.
