Hope for the Crown: Crane census sheds a glimmering hope for the Grey-crowned Crane population

Uganda’s national emblem, the Grey-crowned Crane, is a bird of immense cultural and ecological value. Yet, its population has been in sharp decline for decades, largely due to wetland degradation—the cranes’ primary breeding and feeding grounds—driven by rapid population growth and agricultural expansion. In response, NatureUganda works closely with local communities to protect cranes and wetlands while promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Periodic crane censuses are essential for tracking population trends and distribution. For the past four years, these censuses have been supported by the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA). This year, a cross-border census was conducted to monitor crane numbers and movements between Uganda and Rwanda. The survey combined aerial and ground observations, covering a route from Rubaya through Nyombe-Mugandu wetlands to Mukarangye, Nyinamuronzi, and Katuna border post, extending to Kyanamira near Kabale town.

The census team included NatureUganda staff, alongside local crane custodians and village leaders. Observations were made using binoculars, mobile phones, and the Survey123 app to record data for RWCA in real time. We recorded adult and juvenile cranes, chicks, injured or compromised individuals, crane behaviors (foraging, flying, roosting, breeding), habitats, and potential threats. Experience in local crane conservation helped minimize double counting, as we knew typical roosting and feeding sites.

The census began in the early morning when cranes were most active on feeding sites. By afternoon, many rested at flocking sites, returning to feeding in the evening. Few cranes were observed in flight, and driving speed was kept below 50 km/h to avoid misidentification.

A total of 381 cranes were counted: 364 adults and 17 juveniles, with no chicks or dead cranes recorded. Habitats varied from harvested maize and sorghum fields in Nyinamuronzi and Kabaheesi to grasslands in Kiniogo and Kyanamira, which provide abundant insects for the cranes. Previous censuses recorded 324 adults and 42 juveniles in 2024 and 543 cranes in 2023, indicating local and cross-border movements.

These results will inform Uganda’s Grey-crowned Crane Species Action Plan, guiding habitat restoration, anti-poaching measures, and public awareness campaigns. Encouragingly, census data suggest a stabilizing population after an 80% decline over the last 30–40 years.

Call to Action:

• Report crane sightings – your observations help conservation efforts.
• Support wetland conservation – protect the cranes and their vital ecosystems.